Watching sports with Ted is incredibly frustrating. He has the volume turned up so loud the walls rattle, and you definitely can’t tune in to the game. The announcer’s play-by-play calls are an ear shattering staccato against the earsplitting roar of the crowd.
It isn’t by any means pleasant. But for Ted, it’s a normal volume. Everything needs to be at top volume in order for him to hear it, making it pretty obvious that it’s time to consider hearing aids. You’re just not sure how to tell him that. His sensitivity about the topic makes what should be a simple conversation a lot more difficult.
These tips are a good place to begin.
Recommend a Basic Exam
Ted needs to find out more about his hearing from a specialist. He may not trust other people when they tell him he needs a hearing aid. If that’s the case, the strategy will be getting Ted (or anybody like him) to come see us.
You might be able to do that by making use of one of the following tactics:
- Offer to get a screening with him. This can make starting the dialogue easier. You might find out that you also have some level of hearing impairment (depending on how long you’ve been subjected to loud noise).
- Emphasize that he’ll only be having a quick 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 indicate.
Talk About Behaviors Connected To Hearing Loss
Hearing loss occurs slowly, often progressing so slowly it’s not noticeable. When this occurs, you may acquire certain behaviors without recognizing it. By focusing your discussion on those behaviors, you can subtly (or not so subtly) hint that Ted (or someone like him) needs a hearing aid.
Try something like the following:
- Make him aware that he’s not talking on the phone as much as he once did because he has a difficult time hearing what his friends are saying on the other end.
- Mention that you’ve observed how often you’re “translating” for him. It may happen like this: somebody is talking to Ted but you’re closer and Ted needs you to constantly repeat what was said because he can’t hear them.
- You could tell him the family has observed he’s been having a difficult time hearing. 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.
When you have these talks focusing on these behaviors, not the disorder, will be the goal. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, point out how his hearing loss effects those around him.
Talk About Hearing Aid Technology
In some cases, reticence to using hearing aids comes from outdated (but understandable) notions of what hearing aids do and how they influence one’s personal appearance. It may not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology employed by contemporary hearing aids.
Here are some examples:
- Modern hearing aids are typically extremely small and almost totally imperceptible to the naked eye. Not only that, modern hearing aids are incredibly comfortable for the wearer. They aren’t the big and cumbersome units they used to be. Most individuals will probably never notice you’re wearing them.
- Some hearing aids can even monitor your health and fitness biometrics and translate them in real time as well as other added features.
- The technology of modern hearing aids is pretty advanced. Your hearing aid will connect wirelessly with your phone, TV, and other smart devices by way of Bluetooth® connectivity. This delivers amplified volumes without feedback or noise.
Hearing aids, for many individuals, are a perfect extension to their other smart technology. Modern hearing aids are very helpful pieces of technology that allow you to enjoy live streaming.
Highlight The Long-Term Benefits
Finally, take the time to emphasize the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Essentially, your brain health depends on you being able to hear clearly.
You will keep more of your hearing intact in the long run if you address your hearing loss as soon as you can. When you have hearing impairment, your ears have a hard time processing specific wavelengths and hearing aids are calibrated to fill in those missing frequencies. Simply turning up your TV is no substitute for this valuable technology.
Getting treatment as soon as you start noticing hearing loss can help save your hearing, and knowing that will help convince people like Ted to seek help.
