How to Make Him Aware That he Needs a Hearing Aid

Mature man smiling on couch because now he can hear the TV with his hearing aids.

Watching sports with Ted is incredibly frustrating. Paying attention to the game is impossible because the volume is cranked up so loud that the walls rattle. The commentator’s play-by-play calls are an ear shattering staccato against the earsplitting roar of the crowd.

It isn’t pleasant. But the volume seems fine for Ted. Everything needs to be at max volume for him to hear it, making it pretty obvious that it’s time to think about hearing aids. You’re just not sure how to talk to him that. It should be a simple conversation, but he seems excessively sensitive about the topic.

These tips are a good place to begin.

You Can Suggest he Gets a Basic Hearing Evaluation

Ted needs a specialist to educate him about his hearing. Other people may not seem as credible when they talk to him about it. If that’s the case, the trick will be getting Ted (or anybody like him) to come see us.

One of the following strategies may help you do that:

  • Try making him feel more comfortable by letting him know that it’s just a simple screening. In the vast majority of 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.
  • Suggest that both of you go together for back-to-back assessments. This can make beginning the dialogue easier. It’s possible you’ll learn that you’ve experienced some hearing loss, too (depending on how long you’ve been exposed to loud sound).

Talk About Behaviors Connected To Hearing Loss

Hearing loss takes place gradually, often progressing so slowly it’s unnoticeable. Specific subconscious behaviors frequently develop when this happens. By concentrating your conversation 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:

  • You could tell him your family has noticed he’s been having a hard time hearing. Perhaps that’s why fewer people are going to his house to watch the Big Game each year, they have a tough time dealing with the loud television.
  • Point out that he’s been avoiding talking to family members and friends on the phone because he has trouble hearing what they say.
  • Point out that you’ve observed how frequently you’re “translating” for him. It might happen like this: 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.

When you have these discussions focusing on these behaviors, not the condition, will be the objective. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing impairment, point out how his hearing loss effects people in his life.

Talk About Hearing Aid Technology

Outdated notions of how a hearing aid impacts your appearance and what hearing aids do, in some circumstances, leads to reticence to wear one. It may not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology utilized by contemporary hearing aids.

The following are some examples:

  • Modern hearing aids are usually extremely small and almost completely imperceptible to the naked eye. That’s not all, modern hearing aids are incredibly comfortable for the wearer. They’re not cumbersome like they once were. They won’t even be seen by most people.
  • Some hearing aids can even monitor your health and fitness biometrics and translate them in real time as well as other added features.
  • Modern hearing aids contain a considerable amount of technology. Your hearing aid will connect wirelessly with your phone, TV, and other smart devices thanks to Bluetooth® connectivity. With this technology, the volume of your devices will be amplified without feedback and noise.

For many people, hearing aids feel like an extension of their smartphones or tablets. Modern hearing aids are very useful pieces of technology that help you enjoy live streaming.

Promote The Long-Term Benefits

Lastly, it’s worth taking time to point out the long-term advantages of hearing aids, which have been demonstrated to help people keep (or recover) their cognitive faculties. To put it bluntly, hearing is critical to a person’s cognitive health.

The sooner you treat your hearing loss, the more hearing you’re likely to keep in the long run. 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 up the volume you don’t fill in the particular frequencies that are missing.

Understanding that your hearing can be preserved by getting treatment when you first notice signs of hearing loss will help people like Ted feel comfortable getting the help they need.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.

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