Watching sports with Ted is incredibly frustrating. He has the volume cranked up so high the walls rattle, and you certainly can’t pay attention to the game. The announcer’s play-by-play calls are an ear shattering staccato against the deafening roar of the crowd.
It’s not fun. But for Ted, it’s a normal volume. Everything has to be at max volume in order for him to hear it, making it rather obvious that it’s time to think about hearing aids. How to discuss this with him is the challenge. It should be a straightforward discussion, but he seems overly sensitive about the topic.
The following are some tips that may help.
You Can Recommend he Gets a Simple Hearing Exam
Ted needs to find out more about his hearing from a specialist. Other people might not seem as credible when they talk to him about it. If that’s the case, the trick will be getting Ted (or anybody like him) to come see us.
You might 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. You might discover that you also have some level of hearing impairment (it may depend on how long you’ve been subjected to a high-volume sound).
- Emphasize that he’ll only be undergoing a quick 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 meaning of the information can then be broken down by us.
Discuss Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss is frequently indiscernible because it advances so slowly. When this occurs, you might pick up certain behaviors without knowing it. You can hint in a discreet way that Ted needs a hearing aid by focusing on these behaviors.
Try some of these strategies:
- Remind Him that he’s not using the phone as much as he once did because he has a hard time hearing what his friends are saying on the other end.
- Point out situations where you have to translate what someone said. Here’s a hypothetical example: somebody is talking to Ted but you’re closer and Ted needs you to constantly repeat what was said because he can’t understand them.
- Letting him know that his family has observed him struggling to hear. Maybe that’s why fewer people are going to his house to watch the Big Game each year, they have a difficult time coping with the loud television.
The goal during these discussions is to keep your discussion focused on these behaviors instead of the ailment. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, mention how his hearing loss effects those around him.
Emphasize The Technology in Contemporary Hearing Aids
Outdated ideas of how a hearing aid affects your appearance and what hearing aids do, in some cases, leads to reticence to use one. It may 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 notice them. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They aren’t the big and bulky units they used to be. Most individuals will probably never notice you’re wearing them.
- Modern hearing aids contain a considerable amount of technology. Thanks to connectivity, for example, your hearing aids will pair easily with your phone or even your TV speakers. With this tech, the volume of your devices will be amplified without feedback and noise.
- Some hearing aids can even monitor your health and fitness biometrics and translate them in real time as well as other additional features.
For many individuals, hearing aids feel like an extension of their smartphones or tablets. Modern hearing aids are exceptionally helpful pieces of technology that allow you to enjoy live streaming.
Highlight The Long-Term Advantages
Finally, take some time to point out the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline. In other words, your brain health depends on you being able to hear clearly.
You will keep more of your hearing undamaged in the long run if you manage your hearing loss as soon as you can. Hearing aids are calibrated to fill in specific sound wavelengths your ears have a difficult time discerning. 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 impairment will help people like Ted feel comfortable seeking the help they need.