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 commentator’s play-by-play calls are an ear shattering staccato against the deafening thunder of the crowd.
It isn’t by any means pleasant. But for Ted, the volume is normal. Everything has to be at top volume in order for him to hear it, making it pretty obvious that it’s time to think about hearing aids. How to discuss this with him is the difficulty. It should be a simple conversation, but he seems overly sensitive about the topic.
The following are a few recommendations that may help.
You Can Recommend he Gets a Basic Hearing Exam
Ted needs to find out more about his hearing from a specialist. He may not trust other people when they inform him he needs a hearing aid. If that’s the case, the strategy will be getting Ted (or anybody like him) to come see us.
One of the following tactics may help you do that:
- Attempt to make 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. His hearing will be categorized by frequency on an audiogram. We can explain what the results mean.
- Suggest that both of you go together for back-to-back assessments. This can make beginning the conversation 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 noise).
Comment on Hearing Loss Behaviors
Hearing loss is frequently indiscernible because it progresses so gradually. When this happens, you might pick up certain behaviors without realizing it. You can hint in a discreet way that Ted needs a hearing aid by focusing on these behaviors.
Try something like the following:
- Point out that he’s been evading talking to friends and family members by phone because he has trouble hearing what’s being said.
- You could tell him the family has noticed he’s been having a tough time hearing. Each year it seems as if 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 instances where you have to translate what someone said. It might happen like this: somebody is talking to Ted but you’re closer and Ted needs you to keep repeating what was said because he can’t understand them.
When you have these talks focusing on these behaviors, not the disorder, will be the objective. Instead of discussing how Ted is experiencing hearing impairment, point out how his hearing loss impacts people in his life.
Highlight The Technology in Modern Hearing Aids
Sometimes, reticence to using hearing aids comes from outdated (but understandable) notions of what hearing aids do and how they influence one’s personal appearance. It may not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology used by contemporary hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Typically, contemporary hearing aids are so small you can’t even see them. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They aren’t the big and cumbersome units of the past. Most individuals will most likely never detect you’re wearing them.
- Some hearing aids can even track your health and fitness biometrics and translate them in real time as well as other additional features.
- Modern hearing aids carry an incredible amount of technology. Thanks to connectivity, for instance, your hearing aids will pair easily with your phone or even your television speakers. With this technology, the volume of your devices will be increased without feedback and noise.
Hearing aids, for many individuals, are a perfect extension to their other smart technology. Modern hearing aids are very useful pieces of technology that help you enjoy live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Advantages
Finally, take the time to emphasize the link between hearing loss and mental health decline. To put it bluntly, hearing is essential to a person’s cognitive health.
You will keep more of your hearing intact in the long run if you address your hearing loss as soon as possible. When you have hearing impairment, your ears have a difficult time processing particular 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 particular missing frequencies.
Getting treatment as soon as you begin noticing hearing loss can help save your hearing, and knowing that will help persuade people like Ted to seek help.