Football games with Ted are miserable. He has the volume turned up so high the walls rattle, and you surely can’t tune in to the game. All you can hear is the roar of the crowd hammering against your body, punctuated by the ear-shattering staccato of the commentator’s play-by-play calls.
It’s not pleasant. But for Ted, it’s a normal volume. Everything has to be at top volume in order for him to hear it, making it rather obvious that it’s time to think about hearing aids. You’re just not sure how to tell him that. It should be a simple conversation, but he seems excessively sensitive about the topic.
These tips are a good place to begin.
You Can Suggest he Gets a Simple Hearing Evaluation
Ted needs an expert to educate him about his hearing. Other people might not sound as credible when they tell him about it. If that’s the case, the strategy 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:
- Offer to get a screening too. This is a helpful way to broach a new medical situation. You might discover that you also have some degree of hearing loss (depending on how long you’ve been subjected to loud noise).
- Stress that he’ll only be having a basic assessment. In most cases, hearing screenings are quick and easy. Ted will receive his results on an audiogram, which will analyze his hearing by frequency. The significance of the information can then be clarified by us.
Talk About Behaviors Associated With Hearing Loss
Hearing loss takes place gradually, often progressing so slowly it’s not noticeable. Certain subconscious behaviors frequently develop when this occurs. 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 some of these strategies:
- Letting him know that his family has observed him struggling 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 turned up so loud.
- Point out that he’s been avoiding talking to family members and friends by phone because he has difficulty hearing what they say.
- Point out instances where you have to translate what somebody 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 understand them.
When you have these talks focusing on these behaviors, not the condition, will be the objective. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, mention how his hearing loss impacts people in his life.
Highlight The Technology in Contemporary Hearing Aids
In some instances, reluctance to using hearing aids comes from outdated (but understandable) impressions 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 contemporary hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Usually, contemporary hearing aids are so small you can’t even see them. Not only that, modern hearing aids are exceptionally comfortable for the wearer. They aren’t the big and bulky units they used to be. They won’t even be noticed by most people.
- Some hearing aids have extra features, including the ability to translate in real-time or track important biometrics better than some commercial fitness trackers.
- Modern hearing aids contain a huge amount of technology. Your hearing aid will connect wirelessly with your phone, TV, and other smart devices by way of Bluetooth® connectivity. This delivers amplified volumes without noise or feedback.
Hearing aids, for many people, are a perfect extension to their other smart technology. Modern hearing aids are very useful 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. In other words, your brain health depends on you being able to hear clearly.
The sooner you manage 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 specific wavelengths and hearing aids are calibrated to fill in those missing frequencies. When you simply turn up the volume you don’t fill in the specific missing frequencies.
Getting treatment as soon as you begin noticing hearing loss can help save your hearing, and knowing that will help convince people like Ted to seek help.