Watching sports with Ted is very difficult. Enjoying the game is impossible because the volume is turned up so loud that the walls shake. 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 at all pleasant. But for Ted, the volume is normal. Everything has to be at max volume for him to be able to hear it, making it rather apparent that it’s time to think about hearing aids. You’re just not certain how to talk to him that. It should be a straightforward discussion, but he seems excessively sensitive about the topic.
The following are several tips that may help.
You Can Recommend he Gets a Basic Hearing Test
Ted needs to learn more about his hearing from an expert. He may not believe other people when they inform him he needs a hearing aid. In that situation, the trick will be getting Ted (or anyone like him) to come see us.
You may be able to accomplish that by utilizing one of the following tactics:
- Attempt to make him feel more comfortable 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. The significance of the information can then be clarified by us.
- Offer to get a screening with him. 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).
Talk About Behaviors Linked To Hearing Loss
Hearing loss occurs slowly, often progressing so slowly it’s not noticeable. Certain subconscious behaviors often develop when this happens. You can hint in a discreet way that Ted needs a hearing aid by putting attention on these behaviors.
Try some of these strategies:
- Point out that he’s been evading talking to friends and family members on the phone because he has trouble hearing what they say.
- Point out instances where you need to translate what someone said. Here’s a hypothetical example: 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.
- You could tell him your family has observed he’s been having a difficult time hearing. Each year it seems as if fewer and fewer people are going over to watch the Big Game and that could be because the TV is turned up so loud.
When you have these talks focusing on these behaviors, not the condition, will be the goal. Instead of discussing how Ted is experiencing hearing impairment, mention how his hearing loss impacts people in his life.
Emphasize The Technology in Contemporary Hearing Aids
In some cases, reticence to wearing hearing aids comes from antiquated (but understandable) ideas of what hearing aids do and how they affect 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:
- Modern hearing aids have an incredible amount of technology. Thanks to connectivity, for instance, your hearing aids will pair seamlessly with your phone or even your TV speakers. With this tech, the volume of your devices will be amplified without feedback and noise.
- Some hearing aids can even track your health and fitness biometrics and render them in real time as well as other additional features.
- Usually, modern hearing aids are so small you can’t even notice them. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They’re not bulky like they once were. They won’t even be noticed by most people.
Hearing aids, for many individuals, are a perfect extension to their other smart technology. In this modern world, hearing aids are extremely practical and will help you enjoy activities such as live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Benefits
Finally, take some time to emphasize the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline. To put it bluntly, hearing is essential to a person’s cognitive health.
The sooner you address 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 difficult time discerning. When you simply turn the volume up you don’t fill in the particular missing frequencies.
Getting treatment as soon as you start experiencing hearing loss can help save your hearing, and understanding that will help convince people like Ted to seek help.