Watching sports with Ted is extremely frustrating. Paying attention to the game is impossible because the volume is cranked up so loud that the walls rattle. All you can hear is the roar of the crowd pounding against your body, punctuated by the ear-shattering staccato of the announcer’s play-by-play calls.
It isn’t pleasant. But the volume seems fine for Ted. He requires the TV to be tremendously loud so he can hear it, which makes it pretty obvious he needs a hearing aid. You’re just not certain how to talk to him that. It should be a simple discussion, but he seems overly sensitive about the topic.
The following are some tips that could help.
Suggest a Simple Screening
Ted needs an expert to inform him about his hearing. Other people might not sound as credible when they talk to him about it. If that’s the case, the strategy will be convincing Ted (or anybody like him) to come see us.
You might be able to accomplish that by using one of the following strategies:
- Stress that he’ll only be having a simple assessment. In the vast majority of cases, hearing screenings are quick and easy. His hearing will be broken down by frequency on an audiogram. We can explain what the results mean.
- Suggest that both of you go together for back-to-back screenings. This is a helpful way to discuss a new medical situation. You might find out that you also have some degree of hearing loss (depending on how long you’ve been exposed to loud noise).
Talk About Behaviors Connected To Hearing Loss
Hearing loss occurs slowly, often progressing so slowly it’s not noticeable. When this happens, you might pick up certain behaviors without realizing it. By concentrating your discussion on those behaviors, you can subtly (or not so subtly) hint that Ted (or somebody like him) needs a hearing aid.
Try some of these approaches:
- Point out that you’ve observed how frequently you’re “translating” for him. It might happen like this: someone is talking to Ted but you’re closer and Ted needs you to constantly repeat what was said because he can’t understand them.
- Remind Him that he’s not using the phone as much as he once did because he has a hard time hearing what his friends are saying on the other end.
- Informing him that his family has observed him struggling to hear. Maybe that’s why fewer people are going to his home to watch the Big Game each year, they have a hard time coping with the loud television.
The goal during these talks is to keep your discussion focused on these behaviors rather than the ailment. Instead of discussing how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, mention how his hearing loss impacts those around him.
Talk About Hearing Aid Technology
Outdated ideas of how a hearing aid impacts your appearance and what hearing aids do, in some circumstances, results in reticence to use one. It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology employed by modern hearing aids.
Here are some examples:
- Modern hearing aids are usually very small and almost entirely imperceptible to the naked eye. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They’re not bulky like they once were. They won’t even be seen by most people.
- Modern hearing aids have an incredible amount of technology. Thanks to connectivity, for instance, your hearing aids will pair easily with your phone or even your TV speakers. With this technology, the volume of your devices will be amplified without noise and feedback.
- Some hearing aids can even monitor your health and fitness biometrics and translate them in real time as well as other additional features.
Hearing aids, for many people, are a perfect 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 Benefits
Lastly, it’s worth taking time to mention 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.
The sooner you manage 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 hard time discerning. When you simply turn the volume up you don’t fill in the particular missing frequencies.
Recognizing that your hearing can be preserved by getting treatment when you first observe signs of hearing impairment will help people like Ted feel comfortable seeking the help they need.