Football games with Ted are the worst. Paying attention to 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 thunder of the crowd.
It isn’t pleasant. But the volume sounds normal for Ted. He needs the TV to be extremely loud so he can hear it, which makes it rather clear he needs a hearing aid. You’re just not certain how to tell him that. His sensitivity about the topic makes what should be a straightforward conversation much more difficult.
These tips are a good place to begin.
Suggest a Simple Screening
Ted needs to see a professional to inform him about his hearing. Other people may not sound as credible when they talk to him about it. In that situation, the strategy will be convincing Ted (or anyone like him) to come see us.
One of the following tactics might help you do that:
- Stress that he’ll only be undergoing a basic assessment. 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. The significance of the information can then be broken down by us.
- Recommend that both of you go together for back-to-back screenings. This can make beginning the conversation easier. You may find out that you also have some degree of hearing impairment (it could depend on how long you’ve been subjected to a high-volume sound).
Talk About Behaviors Linked To Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is often undetectable because it progresses so slowly. When this happens, you might acquire certain behaviors without knowing it. By concentrating your discussion on those behaviors, you can subtly (or not so subtly) hint that Ted (or someone like him) needs a hearing aid.
Try some of these strategies:
- Point out that he’s been evading talking to family members and friends on the phone because he has difficulty hearing what’s being said.
- Informing him that his family has noticed 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 hard time dealing with the loud television.
- Point out situations where you have to translate what someone said. It might 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.
When you have these discussions focusing on these behaviors, not the disorder, will be the goal. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, mention how his hearing loss impacts people in his life.
Highlight The Technology in Contemporary Hearing Aids
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 employed by modern hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- The technology of modern hearing aids is quite advanced. Thanks to connectivity, for instance, your hearing aids will pair easily with your phone or even your TV speakers. This delivers amplified volumes without noise or feedback.
- Modern hearing aids are usually very small and almost completely unseen to the naked eye. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They aren’t the big and cumbersome units they used to be. Most individuals will probably never detect you’re wearing them.
- 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. In this modern world, hearing aids are extremely useful and will help you enjoy activities like live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Advantages
Lastly, it’s worth taking time to mention the long-term advantages of hearing aids, which have been demonstrated to help people keep (or recover) mental equity. 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 over time. Hearing aids are calibrated to fill in specific sound wavelengths your ears have a difficult time discerning. When you simply turn up the volume you don’t fill in the specific missing frequencies.
Getting treatment as soon as you start experiencing hearing loss can help save your hearing, and understanding that will help persuade people like Ted to seek help.