Football games with Ted are miserable. He has the volume turned up so high the walls rattle, and you surely can’t pay attention to the game. The commentator’s play-by-play calls are an ear shattering staccato against the earsplitting thunder of the crowd.
It isn’t by any means pleasant. But for Ted, it’s a normal volume. He requires the TV to be tremendously loud so he can hear it, which makes it pretty clear he needs a hearing aid. How to talk to him about it is the challenge. It should be a simple conversation, but he seems overly sensitive about the topic.
These tips are a good place to start.
You Can Recommend he Gets a Basic Hearing Evaluation
Ted needs an expert to educate him about his hearing. Other people may not seem as credible when they talk to him about it. In that situation, the strategy will be convincing Ted (or anybody like him) to come see us.
One of the following strategies might help you do that:
- Stress that he’ll only be undergoing a quick assessment. In most cases, hearing screenings are quick and easy. Ted will receive his results on an audiogram, which will break down his hearing by frequency. The meaning of the results can then be clarified by us.
- Recommend the two of you go together for back-to-back assessments. This is a helpful way to broach a new medical situation. It’s possible you’ll learn that you’ve experienced some hearing loss, too (depending on how long you’ve been exposed to loud sound).
Talk About Behaviors Linked To Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is frequently undetectable because it progresses so gradually. When this occurs, you may pick up certain behaviors without knowing it. By focusing your conversation on those behaviors, you can subtly (or not so subtly) hint that Ted (or somebody like him) needs a hearing aid.
Try some of these approaches:
- Remind Him that he’s not using the phone as much as he once did because he has a difficult time hearing what his friends are saying on the other end.
- You could tell him the family has observed he’s been having a tough time hearing. Perhaps that’s why fewer people are going to his house to watch the Big Game each year, they have a tough time dealing with the loud television.
- Point out instances where you need to translate what somebody said. Here’s a hypothetical example: 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.
The goal during these talks is to keep your discussion centered on these behaviors instead of the ailment. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, point out how his hearing loss impacts those around him.
Highlight The Technology in Contemporary Hearing Aids
Sometimes, reluctance to using hearing aids comes from outdated (but understandable) notions of what hearing aids do and how they impact one’s personal appearance. It may not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology utilized by modern hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Typically, modern hearing aids are so small you can’t even notice them. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They’re not bulky like they once were. They won’t even be seen by most people.
- Some hearing aids can even track your health and fitness biometrics and translate them in real time as well as other additional features.
- Modern hearing aids contain a huge amount of technology. Thanks to connectivity, for example, your hearing aids will pair easily with your phone or even your television speakers. With this technology, the volume of your devices will be amplified without feedback and noise.
For many individuals, 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.
Highlight The Long-Term Advantages
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 essential to a person’s cognitive health.
You will keep more of your hearing intact in the long run if you manage 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 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.