Football games with Ted are miserable. Enjoying the game is impossible because the volume is cranked up so loud that the walls shake. All you can hear is the roar of the crowd pounding against your body, punctuated by the ear-shattering staccato of the commentator’s play-by-play calls.
It’s not fun. But for Ted, it’s a normal volume. He requires the TV to be incredibly loud so he can hear it, which makes it rather obvious he needs a hearing aid. You’re just not sure how to talk to him that. His sensitivity about the topic makes what should be a simple conversation much more difficult.
These tips are a good place to start.
Suggest a Simple Screening
Ted needs a specialist to educate him about his hearing. Other people may not seem as credible when they tell him about it. If that’s the case, the trick will be getting Ted (or anyone like him) to come see us.
You may be able to do that by utilizing one of the following tactics:
- Attempt to make him feel more comfortable by letting him know that it’s just a simple assessment. In most cases, hearing screenings are quick and easy. His hearing will be broken down by frequency on an audiogram. The significance of the information can then be clarified by us.
- Offer to get a screening too. This is a beneficial way to broach a new medical situation. It’s possible you’ll discover that you’ve experienced some hearing loss, also (depending on how long you’ve been exposed to loud noise).
Chat About Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss is frequently indiscernible because it advances so slowly. When this occurs, you might pick up certain behaviors without knowing it. You can hint in a subtle way that Ted needs a hearing aid by putting attention on these behaviors.
Try something like the following:
- 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. Each year it seems as if fewer and fewer people are going over to see the Big Game and that could be because the TV is so loud.
- Point out that you’ve observed how often you’re “translating” for him. It may happen like this: your friend says something at dinner, Ted doesn’t hear or comprehend it, and you have to repeat the sentence to Ted because you’re closer to him.
The goal during these conversations is to keep your discussion focused on these behaviors rather than the disorder. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing impairment, mention how his hearing loss effects people in his life.
Emphasize The Technology in Modern Hearing Aids
In some instances, reluctance to wearing hearing aids comes from outdated (but understandable) ideas of what hearing aids do and how they affect one’s personal appearance. It may not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology employed by contemporary hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Modern hearing aids are generally incredibly small and almost totally unseen to the naked eye. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They’re not cumbersome like they once were. They won’t even be noticed by most people.
- Modern hearing aids contain a considerable amount of technology. Thanks to connectivity, for example, your hearing aids will pair seamlessly with your phone or even your television speakers. This delivers amplified volumes without feedback or noise.
- Some hearing aids have added features, including the ability to translate in real-time or track key biometrics better than some commercial fitness trackers.
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 like live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Benefits
Lastly, it’s worth taking time to point out the long-term advantages of hearing aids, which have been shown to help people keep (or recover) their cognitive faculties. 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 address your hearing loss as soon as possible. When you have hearing impairment, your ears have a difficult time processing specific wavelengths and hearing aids are calibrated to fill in those missing frequencies. Simply turning up your TV isn’t a substitute for this valuable technology.
Recognizing that your hearing can be preserved by getting treatment when you first notice signs of hearing impairment will help people like Ted feel comfortable getting the help they need.