Football games with Ted are miserable. He has the volume cranked up so loud the walls shake, and you surely can’t tune in 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 in any way enjoyable. But the volume seems fine for Ted. Everything has to be at max volume for him to be able to hear it, making it pretty apparent that it’s time to think about hearing aids. How to discuss this with him is the problem. His sensitivity about the subject makes what should be a straightforward conversation a lot more difficult.
These tips are a good place to begin.
Suggest a Simple Screening
Ted needs to find out more about his hearing from an expert. Other people may not seem as credible when they tell him about it. In that situation, the trick will be getting Ted (or anybody like him) to come see us.
One of the following strategies might help you do that:
- Stress that he’ll only be undergoing a quick assessment. In most cases, hearing screenings are fast and easy. His hearing will be broken down by frequency on an audiogram. The meaning of the information can then be broken down by us.
- Offer to get a screening with him. This can make starting the dialogue easier. You might discover that you also have some degree of hearing loss (it may depend on how long you’ve been exposed to a high-volume noise).
Discuss Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss is frequently indiscernible because it progresses so slowly. Certain subconscious behaviors frequently develop when this happens. You can hint in a subtle way that Ted needs a hearing aid by putting attention on these behaviors.
Try some of these strategies:
- 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 constantly repeat what was said because he can’t hear them.
- You could tell him the family has noticed he’s been having a tough time hearing. Perhaps that’s why fewer individuals are going to his house to watch the Big Game each year, they have a tough time dealing with the loud television.
- Remind Him 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.
The goal during these talks is to keep your discussion focused on these behaviors rather than the disorder. Instead of discussing how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, mention how his hearing loss impacts people in his life.
Talk About Hearing Aid Technology
In some instances, reluctance to wearing hearing aids comes from antiquated (but understandable) impressions of what hearing aids do and how they impact one’s personal appearance. It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology used by modern hearing aids.
Here are some examples:
- The technology of modern hearing aids is very advanced. Thanks to connectivity, for instance, your hearing aids will pair seamlessly with your phone or even your television speakers. This delivers amplified volumes without noise or feedback.
- Modern hearing aids are usually extremely small and almost entirely unseen to the naked eye. That’s not all, modern hearing aids are exceptionally comfortable for the wearer. They aren’t the big and cumbersome units of the past. They won’t even be noticed by most people.
- Some hearing aids can even monitor your health and fitness biometrics and render them in real time as well as other additional features.
Hearing aids, for many people, are an ideal extension to their other smart technology. Modern hearing aids are extremely helpful pieces of technology that help you enjoy live streaming.
Highlight The Long-Term Advantages
Lastly, it’s worth taking time to point out the long-term benefits 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 able to hear clearly.
You will keep more of your hearing intact in the long run if you treat your hearing loss as soon as you can. 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 is no substitute for this valuable technology.
Recognizing that your hearing can be preserved by getting treatment when you first notice signs of hearing impairment will help people like Ted feel comfortable seeking the help they need.
