Watching sports with Ted is incredibly difficult. He has the volume cranked up so high the walls rattle, and you definitely can’t pay attention to the game. The announcer’s play-by-play calls are an ear shattering staccato against the deafening roar of the crowd.
It isn’t at all pleasant. But for Ted, the volume is normal. Everything has to be at max volume for him to be able to hear it, making it pretty obvious that it’s time to think about hearing aids. How to talk to him about it is the problem. It should be a straightforward conversation, but he seems overly sensitive about the topic.
These tips are a good place to start.
Suggest a Simple Screening
Ted has to learn more about his hearing from an expert. He might not trust other people when they tell him he needs a hearing aid. In that situation, the trick will be convincing Ted (or anybody like him) to come see us.
One of the following tactics might help you do that:
- Offer to get a screening too. This can make starting the dialogue easier. You may find out that you also have some degree of hearing loss (it could depend on how long you’ve been subjected to a high-volume noise).
- Try making him feel more comfortable by letting him know that it’s just a simple screening. In the vast majority of cases, hearing screenings are quick and easy. His hearing will be categorized by frequency on an audiogram. We can detail what the results mean.
Chat About Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss happens gradually, often advancing so slowly it’s unnoticeable. When this occurs, you may acquire certain behaviors without realizing it. You can hint in a subtle way that Ted needs a hearing aid by focusing on these behaviors.
Try some of these approaches:
- Point out situations where you have to translate what someone said. It may happen like this: your friend says something at breakfast, Ted doesn’t hear or comprehend it, and you need to repeat the sentence to Ted because you’re closer to him.
- Point out that he’s been evading talking to friends and family members by phone because he has difficulty hearing what’s being said.
- Letting him know that his family has observed him straining to hear. Every year it seems like fewer and fewer people are going over to watch the Big Game and that could be because the TV is so loud.
The goal during these conversations is to keep your discussion focused on these behaviors instead of the disorder. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing impairment, point out how his hearing loss impacts people in his life.
Talk About Hearing Aid Technology
Outdated ideas of how a hearing aid affects your appearance and what hearing aids do, in some cases, leads to reticence to use one. It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology employed by contemporary hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Some hearing aids have added features, like the ability to translate in real-time or track key biometrics better than some commercial fitness trackers.
- Modern hearing aids are usually very small and almost entirely imperceptible to the naked eye. That’s not all, modern hearing aids are amazingly comfortable for the wearer. They’re not cumbersome like they once were. Most individuals will probably never detect you’re wearing them.
- Modern hearing aids carry an incredible amount of technology. Your hearing aid will connect wirelessly with your phone, TV, and other smart devices thanks to Bluetooth® connectivity. With this tech, the volume of your devices will be increased without feedback and noise.
For many people, hearing aids feel like an extension of their smartphones or tablets. In this modern world, hearing aids are extremely useful and will help you enjoy activities such as live streaming.
Highlight The Long-Term Advantages
Lastly, it’s worth taking time to point out the long-term benefits of hearing aids, which have been shown to help people keep (or recover) mental equity. To put it bluntly, hearing is critical to a person’s cognitive health.
You will keep more of your hearing undamaged in the long run if you treat your hearing loss as soon as possible. Hearing aids are calibrated to fill in specific sound wavelengths your ears have a difficult time discerning. When you simply turn the volume up you don’t fill in the particular frequencies that are missing.
Understanding that your hearing can be preserved by getting treatment when you first notice signs of hearing loss will help people like Ted feel comfortable seeking the help they need.