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 shake. The announcer’s play-by-play calls are an ear shattering staccato against the deafening thunder of the crowd.
It’s not fun. But for Ted, it’s a normal volume. He requires the TV to be tremendously loud so he can hear it, which makes it pretty obvious he needs a hearing aid. How to discuss this with him is the difficulty. His sensitivity about the subject makes what should be a simple conversation much more difficult.
These tips are a good place to begin.
You Can Suggest he Gets a Basic Hearing Test
Ted has to find out more about his hearing from a specialist. He might not believe other people when they tell him he needs a hearing aid. If that’s the case, 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:
- Try making him feel more comfortable by letting him know that it’s just a simple assessment. In most cases, hearing screenings are fast and easy. His hearing will be broken down by frequency on an audiogram. We can clarify what the results indicate.
- Offer to get a screening with him. This can make beginning the conversation easier. It’s possible you’ll learn that you’ve experienced some hearing loss, also (it could depend on how long you’ve been subjected to a high-volume noise).
Talk About Behaviors Linked To Hearing Loss
Hearing loss happens gradually, often advancing so slowly it’s unnoticeable. When this occurs, you might pick up certain behaviors without knowing it. You can hint in a subtle way that Ted needs a hearing aid by putting attention on these behaviors.
Try some of these approaches:
- Informing him that his family has observed him straining 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 turned up so loud.
- 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.
- Point out that you’ve observed how frequently you’re “translating” for him. It may happen like this: 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 discussions is to keep your discussion focused on these behaviors instead of the disorder. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, mention how his hearing loss effects people in his life.
Highlight The Technology in Modern Hearing Aids
Sometimes, reluctance to using hearing aids comes from antiquated (but understandable) notions of what hearing aids do and how they affect one’s personal appearance. It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology utilized by contemporary 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 additional features.
- Modern hearing aids have an immense amount of technology. Your hearing aid will connect wirelessly with your phone, TV, and other smart devices thanks to Bluetooth® connectivity. With this tech, the volume of your devices will be increased without noise and feedback.
- Usually, contemporary hearing aids are so small you can’t even notice them. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They’re not cumbersome like they once were. Most people will probably never detect you’re wearing them.
Hearing aids, for many people, are an ideal extension to their other smart technology. Modern hearing aids are extremely useful pieces of technology that allow you to enjoy live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Benefits
Finally, take some time to emphasize the link 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. 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. When you simply turn the volume up 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.