Watching sports with Ted is incredibly frustrating. Paying attention to the game is impossible because the volume is cranked up so loud that the walls shake. 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 fine for Ted. He requires the TV to be extremely loud so he can hear it, which makes it pretty obvious he needs a hearing aid. You’re just not sure how to tell him that. His sensitivity about the subject makes what should be a straightforward conversation much more difficult.
These tips are a good place to start.
You Can Recommend he Gets a Basic Hearing Test
Ted needs an expert to educate him about his hearing. He might not trust other people when they inform him he needs a hearing aid. If that’s the case, the strategy will be convincing Ted (or anyone like him) to come see us.
You may be able to do that by making use of one of the following tactics:
- 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 subjected to loud noise).
- Try making him feel more at ease by letting him know that it’s just a simple assessment. In most cases, hearing screenings are fast and easy. Ted will get his results on an audiogram, which will analyze his hearing by frequency. The meaning of the results can then be broken down by us.
Talk About Behaviors Connected To Hearing Loss
Hearing loss happens slowly, often advancing so slowly it’s not noticeable. When this happens, you may acquire certain behaviors without realizing 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:
- Letting him know that his family has observed him struggling 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 turned up so loud.
- Point out instances where you have to translate what somebody said. 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.
- Point out that he’s been evading talking to friends and family members on the phone because he has trouble hearing what’s being said.
When you have these discussions focusing on these behaviors, not the disorder, will be the objective. Instead of discussing how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, mention how his hearing loss impacts those around him.
Talk About Hearing Aid Technology
Outdated ideas of how a hearing aid impacts your appearance and what hearing aids do, in some instances, leads to reticence to use one. It may not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology utilized by modern hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- The technology of modern hearing aids is very advanced. Your hearing aid will connect wirelessly with your phone, TV, and other smart devices thanks to Bluetooth® connectivity. This delivers amplified volumes without noise or feedback.
- Some hearing aids have additional features, such as the ability to translate in real-time or track important biometrics better than some commercial fitness trackers.
- Usually, modern hearing aids are so small you can’t even notice them. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They’re not cumbersome like they once were. They won’t even be seen by most people.
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.
Highlight The Long-Term Advantages
Finally, take the time to emphasize the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline. In other words, your brain health depends on you being capable of hearing clearly.
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 hard time processing specific wavelengths and hearing aids are calibrated to fill in those missing frequencies. When you simply turn the volume up you don’t fill in the specific missing frequencies.
Understanding that your hearing can be preserved by getting treatment when you first observe signs of hearing impairment will help people like Ted feel comfortable getting the help they need.
