Football games with Ted are miserable. He has the volume cranked up so high the walls shake, and you definitely can’t pay attention to the game. The commentator’s play-by-play calls are an ear shattering staccato against the earsplitting thunder of the crowd.
It’s not fun. But for Ted, it’s a normal volume. Everything needs to be at max volume in order for him to hear it, making it rather obvious that it’s time to consider hearing aids. You’re just not certain how to tell him that. His sensitivity about the subject makes what should be a simple conversation a lot more challenging.
These tips are a good place to start.
You Can Recommend he Gets a Basic Hearing Test
Ted needs a specialist to inform him about his hearing. He might not trust other people when they tell him he needs a hearing aid. In that situation, the strategy will be convincing Ted (or anyone like him) to come see us.
You might be able to do that by using one of the following strategies:
- Offer to get a screening too. This can make beginning the conversation easier. You might discover that you also have some degree of hearing loss (depending on how long you’ve been exposed to loud sound).
- Try making him feel more comfortable by letting him know that it’s just a simple assessment. In the vast majority of cases, hearing screenings are quick and easy. His hearing will be categorized by frequency on an audiogram. We can detail what the results mean.
Comment on Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss happens slowly, often advancing so slowly it’s unnoticeable. Specific subconscious behaviors often develop when this happens. You can hint in a subtle way that Ted needs a hearing aid by focusing on these behaviors.
Try some of these strategies:
- Letting him know that his family has noticed him struggling to hear. Perhaps that’s why fewer people are going to his house to watch the Big Game each year, they have a tough time coping with the loud television.
- Make him aware that he’s not talking on the phone as much as he used to because he has a difficult time hearing what his friends are saying on the other end.
- Mention that you’ve noticed how frequently you’re “translating” for him. Here’s a hypothetical example: someone is talking to Ted but you’re closer and Ted needs you to keep repeating what was said because he can’t understand them.
The goal during these talks is to keep your discussion focused 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
Antiquated ideas of how a hearing aid affects your appearance and what hearing aids do, in some instances, results in reluctance to use one. It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology utilized by modern hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Some hearing aids can even track your health and fitness biometrics and render them in real time as well as other added features.
- Modern hearing aids are typically incredibly small and almost completely unseen to the naked eye. Not only that, modern hearing aids are exceptionally comfortable for the wearer. They aren’t the big and cumbersome units of the past. Most people will most likely never detect you’re wearing them.
- The technology of modern hearing aids is very advanced. Your hearing aid will connect wirelessly with your phone, TV, and other smart devices by way of Bluetooth® connectivity. With this tech, the volume of your devices will be amplified without feedback and noise.
For many people, hearing aids feel like an extension of their smartphones or tablets. In this modern world, hearing aids are extremely useful and will help you enjoy activities such as live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Advantages
Finally, take the time to point out the connection between hearing loss and mental health decline. Essentially, your brain health depends on you being able to hear clearly.
You will keep more of your hearing intact in the long run if you manage your hearing loss as soon as you can. When you have hearing impairment, your ears have a difficult 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.
Getting treatment as soon as you begin experiencing hearing loss can help save your hearing, and knowing that will help persuade people like Ted to seek help.