Watching sports with Ted is very frustrating. Enjoying the game is impossible because the volume is turned up so loud that the walls shake. The commentator’s play-by-play calls are an ear shattering staccato against the earsplitting roar of the crowd.
It isn’t at all enjoyable. But the volume sounds fine for Ted. He needs the TV to be extremely loud so he can hear it, which makes it rather obvious he needs a hearing aid. You’re just not certain how to tell him that. It should be a simple discussion, but he seems excessively sensitive about the topic.
These tips are a good place to begin.
You Can Recommend he Gets a Simple Hearing Exam
Ted needs to find out more about his hearing from a specialist. He might not believe other people when they inform him he needs a hearing aid. In that situation, the strategy will be getting Ted (or anyone like him) to come see us.
One of the following tactics may help you do that:
- Attempt to make him feel more at ease by letting him know that it’s just a simple screening. In most cases, hearing screenings are quick and easy. His hearing will be broken down by frequency on an audiogram. We can clarify what the results mean.
- Recommend that both of you go together for back-to-back assessments. 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 sound).
Discuss Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss is often indiscernible because it progresses so slowly. Certain subconscious behaviors frequently develop when this happens. You can hint in a discreet way that Ted needs a hearing aid by focusing on these behaviors.
Try some of these strategies:
- Letting him know that his family has noticed him straining to hear. Each year it seems like fewer and fewer people are going over to see the Big Game and that could be because the TV is turned up so loud.
- Point out that you’ve observed how often you’re “translating” for him. Here’s a hypothetical example: your friend says something at dinner, Ted doesn’t hear or understand it, and you need to repeat the sentence to Ted because you’re closer to him.
- Point out that he’s been evading talking to friends and family members on the phone because he has trouble hearing what they say.
When you have these talks focusing on these behaviors, not the disorder, will be the goal. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing impairment, mention how his hearing loss impacts people in his life.
Emphasize The Technology in Modern Hearing Aids
Outdated ideas of how a hearing aid impacts your appearance and what hearing aids do, in some cases, results in reluctance to use one. It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology utilized by modern hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Modern hearing aids are generally extremely small and almost completely unseen to the naked eye. Not only that, modern hearing aids are exceptionally comfortable for the wearer. They’re not bulky like they once were. Most people will probably never detect you’re wearing them.
- Some hearing aids have added features, like the ability to translate in real-time or track important biometrics better than some commercial fitness trackers.
- The technology of modern hearing aids is pretty advanced. Your hearing aid will connect wirelessly with your phone, TV, and other smart devices by way of Bluetooth® connectivity. This provides amplified volumes without noise or feedback.
Hearing aids, for many people, are an ideal extension to their other smart technology. In this modern world, hearing aids are extremely practical and will help you enjoy activities like live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Benefits
Finally, take the time to point out the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Essentially, your brain health depends on you being capable of hearing clearly.
The sooner you treat your hearing loss, the more hearing you’re likely to keep in the long run. Hearing aids are calibrated specifically to fill in the sound wavelengths which your ears have a hard time discerning. Simply turning up your TV is no substitute for this valuable technology.
Understanding that your hearing can be preserved by getting treatment when you first observe signs of hearing impairment will help people like Ted feel comfortable getting the help they need.