Watching sports with Ted is extremely difficult. Enjoying the game is impossible because the volume is cranked up so loud that the walls rattle. The announcer’s play-by-play calls are an ear shattering staccato against the deafening roar of the crowd.
It’s not fun. But the volume seems fine for Ted. Everything has to be at max volume for him to be able to hear it, making it rather apparent that it’s time to think about hearing aids. How to discuss this with him is the difficulty. It should be a straightforward conversation, but he seems overly sensitive about the topic.
The following are a few recommendations that might help.
Encourage a Simple Screening
Ted needs an expert to inform him about his hearing. Other people might not seem as credible when they talk to him about it. If that’s the case, the strategy will be convincing Ted (or anyone like him) to come see us.
You may be able to accomplish that by utilizing one of the following strategies:
- Offer to get a screening too. This can make beginning the dialogue easier. It’s possible you’ll discover that you’ve experienced some hearing loss, too (depending on how long you’ve been exposed to loud noise).
- Attempt to make him feel more comfortable by letting him know that it’s just a simple 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 significance of the information can then be broken down by us.
Talk About Behaviors Associated With Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is often indiscernible because it advances so gradually. When this happens, you may pick up certain behaviors without realizing it. 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 something like the following:
- Informing him that his family has noticed him struggling to hear. Every 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 need to translate what someone said. It might happen like this: your friend says something at breakfast, Ted doesn’t hear or comprehend it, and you have to repeat the sentence to Ted because you’re closer to him.
- Point out that he’s been evading talking to family members and friends on the phone because he has trouble hearing what they say.
The goal during these conversations is to keep your discussion centered on these behaviors instead of the ailment. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing impairment, mention how his hearing loss effects people in his life.
Talk About Hearing Aid Technology
Outdated notions of how a hearing aid affects your appearance and what hearing aids do, in some circumstances, results in reticence to wear one. It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology utilized by modern hearing aids.
Here are some examples:
- Usually, contemporary hearing aids are so small you can’t even see them. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They aren’t the big and cumbersome units they used to be. Most people will probably never detect you’re wearing them.
- The technology of modern hearing aids is quite advanced. Thanks to connectivity, for instance, your hearing aids will pair seamlessly with your phone or even your TV speakers. This delivers amplified volumes without feedback or noise.
- 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.
Hearing aids, for many individuals, are an ideal extension to their other smart technology. In this modern world, hearing aids are incredibly useful and will help you enjoy activities like live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Benefits
Finally, take some time to emphasize the connection between hearing loss and mental health decline. In other words, your brain health depends on you being able to hear clearly.
The sooner you address 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.
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.
