Watching sports with Ted is extremely frustrating. He has the volume cranked up so loud the walls rattle, and you definitely can’t pay attention to the game. All you notice is the thunder of the crowd pounding against your body, punctuated by the ear-shattering staccato of the announcer’s play-by-play calls.
It isn’t at all pleasant. But the volume seems normal for Ted. 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 discuss this with him is the problem. His sensitivity about the subject makes what should be a straightforward conversation a lot more challenging.
These tips are a good place to begin.
You Can Recommend he Gets a Basic Hearing Exam
Ted needs an expert to educate him about his hearing. Other people might not seem as credible when they tell him about it. In that situation, the strategy will be convincing Ted (or anyone like him) to come see us.
One of the following strategies may help you do that:
- Try making him feel more comfortable by letting him know that it’s just a simple screening. In most cases, hearing screenings are quick and easy. His hearing will be categorized by frequency on an audiogram. The significance of the information can then be broken down by us.
- Offer to get a screening too. This is a beneficial 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 subjected to loud sound).
Chat About Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss happens gradually, often advancing so slowly it’s unnoticeable. When this happens, you may pick up 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:
- Point out that he’s been avoiding talking to friends and family members on the phone because he has difficulty hearing what they say.
- Point out instances where you have to translate what someone said. It might happen like this: someone is talking to Ted but you’re closer and Ted needs you to constantly repeat what was said because he can’t understand them.
- You could tell him the family has observed he’s been having a hard time hearing. Maybe that’s why fewer individuals are going to his home to watch the Big Game each year, they have a difficult time coping with the loud television.
When you have these discussions focusing on these behaviors, not the condition, will be the objective. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing impairment, mention how his hearing loss effects those around him.
Highlight The Technology in Modern Hearing Aids
In some instances, reticence 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:
- Some hearing aids can even monitor your health and fitness biometrics and render them in real time as well as other added features.
- Usually, contemporary hearing aids are so small you can’t even see them. That’s not all, modern hearing aids are exceptionally comfortable for the wearer. They aren’t the big and cumbersome units of the past. Most individuals will probably never detect you’re wearing them.
- Modern hearing aids have an immense amount of technology. Thanks to connectivity, for instance, your hearing aids will pair seamlessly with your phone or even your TV speakers. This delivers amplified volumes without noise or feedback.
Hearing aids, for many individuals, are an ideal extension to their other smart technology. In this modern world, hearing aids are extremely practical and will help you enjoy activities such as live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Advantages
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 manage your hearing loss, the more hearing you’re likely to keep in the long run. 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. 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 observe signs of hearing loss will help people like Ted feel comfortable seeking the help they need.