Football games with Ted are miserable. He has the volume turned up so loud the walls shake, and you certainly can’t pay attention to the game. All you notice 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’s not fun. But the volume sounds normal for Ted. He needs the TV to be tremendously loud so he can hear it, which makes it rather clear he needs a hearing aid. How to discuss this with him is the difficulty. His sensitivity about the subject makes what should be a straightforward conversation a lot more difficult.
The following are a few tips that may help.
Recommend a Basic Screening
Ted needs a specialist to educate him about his hearing. Other people might not sound as credible when they talk to him about it. In that situation, the strategy will be getting Ted (or anybody like him) to come see us.
You might be able to accomplish that by utilizing one of the following tactics:
- Attempt to make him feel more at ease by letting him know that it’s just a simple screening. In the vast majority of 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.
- Suggest the two of you go together for back-to-back assessments. This can make beginning the dialogue easier. It’s possible you’ll discover that you’ve experienced some hearing loss, also (it could depend on how long you’ve been subjected to a high-volume noise).
Talk About Behaviors Linked To Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is often indiscernible because it progresses so slowly. When this happens, you may pick up certain behaviors without realizing 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 something like the following:
- You could tell him the family has noticed he’s been having a difficult time hearing. Each year it seems as if fewer and fewer people are going over to watch the Big Game and that could be because the TV is so loud.
- Point out that he’s been evading talking to family members and friends by phone because he has trouble hearing what’s being said.
- 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 discussions is to keep your discussion focused on these behaviors rather than the disorder. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing impairment, point out how his hearing loss effects people in his life.
Highlight The Technology in Modern Hearing Aids
Outdated notions of how a hearing aid affects your appearance and what hearing aids do, in some instances, results in reticence to use one. It may not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology employed by contemporary hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Modern hearing aids contain an incredible amount of technology. Your hearing aid will connect wirelessly with your phone, TV, and other smart devices thanks to Bluetooth® connectivity. With this tech, the volume of your devices will be increased without feedback and noise.
- Some hearing aids have added features, such as the ability to translate in real-time or track important biometrics better than some commercial fitness trackers.
- 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 they used to be. 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 extremely useful pieces of technology that allow you to enjoy 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) mental equity. In other words, your brain health depends on you being capable of hearing clearly.
The sooner you treat 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 particular wavelengths and hearing aids are calibrated to fill in those missing frequencies. Simply turning your television volume up is no substitute for this valuable technology.
Getting treatment as soon as you begin experiencing hearing loss can help save your hearing, and understanding that will help convince people like Ted to seek help.