Football games with Ted are the worst. He has the volume cranked up so loud the walls rattle, and you certainly can’t tune in to the game. All you can hear is the thunder of the crowd hammering against your body, punctuated by the ear-shattering staccato of the announcer’s play-by-play calls.
It isn’t fun. But the volume seems normal for Ted. He requires the TV to be incredibly loud so he can hear it, which makes it pretty obvious he needs a hearing aid. How to talk to him about it is the difficulty. It should be a simple conversation, but he seems excessively sensitive about the topic.
The following are a few tips that might help.
Encourage a Basic Exam
Ted needs a specialist to educate him about his hearing. He might not believe other people when they inform 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.
One of the following tactics might help you do that:
- Offer to get a screening too. This can make starting the conversation easier. You might find out that you also have some level of hearing loss (depending on how long you’ve been subjected to loud sound).
- Attempt to make him feel more at ease 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. We can explain what the results indicate.
Chat About Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss happens slowly, often progressing so slowly it’s unnoticeable. When this occurs, you may pick up certain behaviors without realizing it. By concentrating your discussion on those behaviors, you can subtly (or not so subtly) hint that Ted (or somebody like him) needs a hearing aid.
Try something like the following:
- Informing him that his family has observed him straining to hear. Every year it seems like 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 he’s been avoiding talking to family members and friends on the phone because he has trouble hearing what they say.
- Point out situations where you need to translate what someone said. Here’s a hypothetical example: somebody is talking to Ted but you’re closer and Ted needs you to keep repeating what was said because he can’t hear them.
The goal during these conversations is to keep your discussion focused on these behaviors rather than the ailment. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing impairment, point out how his hearing loss impacts those around him.
Talk About Hearing Aid Technology
Sometimes, reluctance to wearing hearing aids comes from antiquated (but understandable) notions of what hearing aids do and how they impact one’s personal appearance. It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology utilized by contemporary hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- The technology of modern hearing aids is pretty advanced. Thanks to connectivity, for instance, your hearing aids will pair easily with your phone or even your television speakers. With this tech, the volume of your devices will be increased without noise and feedback.
- Modern hearing aids are typically incredibly small and almost entirely unseen 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 most likely never detect you’re wearing them.
- Some hearing aids have additional features, like the ability to translate in real-time or track important biometrics better than some commercial fitness trackers.
For many individuals, hearing aids feel like an extension of their smartphones or tablets. Modern hearing aids are very helpful pieces of technology that help you enjoy live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Benefits
Lastly, it’s worth taking time to mention the long-term advantages of hearing aids, which have been shown to help people keep (or recover) mental equity. Essentially, your brain health depends on you being able to hear clearly.
The sooner you treat your hearing loss, the more hearing you’re likely to keep over time. When you have hearing loss, your ears have a difficult time processing particular wavelengths and hearing aids are calibrated to fill in those missing frequencies. Simply turning up your TV is no substitute for this valuable technology.
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 getting the help they need.