Football games with Ted are miserable. Enjoying the game is impossible because the volume is turned up so loud that the walls shake. All you notice is the roar 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 for Ted, it’s a normal volume. Everything needs to be at max volume for him to hear it, making it rather obvious that it’s time to consider hearing aids. You’re just not certain how to talk to him that. His sensitivity about the topic makes what should be a straightforward conversation a lot more difficult.
The following are a few recommendations that may help.
Recommend a Basic Screening
Ted needs a specialist to educate him about his hearing. Other people may not seem as credible when they tell him about it. If that’s the case, the trick will be getting Ted (or anyone like him) to come see us.
One of the following strategies might help you do that:
- Offer to get a screening with him. This can make beginning the dialogue easier. You might discover that you also have some level of hearing loss (depending on how long you’ve been subjected to loud sound).
- Stress that he’ll only be undergoing a basic screening. In most cases, hearing screenings are fast and easy. Ted will get his results on an audiogram, which will break down his hearing by frequency. We can detail what the results mean.
Discuss Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss is frequently undetectable because it progresses so gradually. Certain subconscious behaviors often develop when this occurs. You can hint in a discreet way that Ted needs a hearing aid by focusing on these behaviors.
Try something like the following:
- Make him aware that he’s not using the phone as much as he used to because he has a hard time hearing what his friends are saying on the other end.
- Point out that you’ve observed how frequently you’re “translating” for him. It may happen like this: your friend says something at dinner, Ted doesn’t hear or comprehend it, and you have to repeat the sentence to Ted because you’re closer to him.
- Informing him that his family has noticed him struggling to hear. Every year it seems like fewer and fewer people are going over to watch the Big Game and that could be because the TV is so loud.
When you have these discussions focusing on these behaviors, not the disorder, will be the goal. Instead of discussing how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, mention how his hearing loss impacts those around him.
Highlight The Technology in Contemporary Hearing Aids
Antiquated notions of how a hearing aid affects your appearance and what hearing aids do, in some circumstances, results in reluctance to wear one. It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology used by contemporary hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Some hearing aids have additional features, like the ability to translate in real-time or track key biometrics better than some commercial fitness trackers.
- Modern hearing aids are generally very small and almost totally unseen to the naked eye. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They aren’t the big and cumbersome units of the past. They won’t even be noticed by most people.
- Modern hearing aids carry a huge amount of technology. Thanks to connectivity, for example, your hearing aids will pair seamlessly with your phone or even your television speakers. With this tech, the volume of your devices will be increased without feedback and noise.
For many individuals, hearing aids feel like an extension of their smartphones or tablets. In this modern world, hearing aids are extremely practical and will help you enjoy activities such as live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Benefits
Lastly, it’s worth taking time to mention the long-term advantages of hearing aids, which have been shown to help people keep (or recover) mental equity. Essentially, 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 impairment, 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 isn’t a substitute for this valuable technology.
Understanding 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.
