Football games with Ted are miserable. Enjoying the game is impossible because the volume is cranked up so loud that the walls shake. All you notice is the thunder of the crowd pounding against your body, punctuated by the ear-shattering staccato of the announcer’s play-by-play calls.
It isn’t by any means pleasant. But for Ted, the volume is normal. He needs the TV to be incredibly loud so he can hear it, which makes it pretty clear he needs a hearing aid. You’re just not certain how to tell him that. It should be a straightforward conversation, but he seems excessively sensitive about the topic.
The following are several recommendations that could help.
Recommend a Basic Screening
Ted needs to learn more about his hearing from an expert. Other people might not seem as credible when they tell him about it. In that situation, the trick will be getting Ted (or anybody like him) to come see us.
You might be able to do that by making use of one of the following tactics:
- Offer to get a screening with him. This can make starting the conversation easier. It’s possible you’ll discover that you’ve experienced some hearing loss, as well (depending on how long you’ve been subjected to loud noise).
- Emphasize that he’ll only be undergoing a basic assessment. In most cases, hearing screenings are fast and easy. Ted will receive his results on an audiogram, which will analyze his hearing by frequency. The meaning of the results can then be clarified by us.
Talk About Behaviors Associated With Hearing Loss
Hearing loss happens gradually, often progressing so slowly it’s unnoticeable. When this occurs, you may acquire certain behaviors without recognizing it. You can hint in a subtle way that Ted needs a hearing aid by putting attention on these behaviors.
Try something like the following:
- Point out that he’s been avoiding talking to family members and friends by phone because he has difficulty hearing what they say.
- You could tell him the family has observed he’s been having a tough time hearing. Perhaps that’s why fewer individuals are going to his home to watch the Big Game each year, they have a hard time dealing with the loud television.
- Point out that you’ve observed how frequently you’re “translating” for him. It may happen like this: your friend says something at breakfast, Ted doesn’t hear or understand it, and you need to repeat what they said to Ted because you’re closer to him.
When you have these conversations focusing on these behaviors, not the condition, will be the objective. Instead of talking about how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, mention how his hearing loss impacts people in his life.
Talk About Hearing Aid Technology
Sometimes, reticence to wearing hearing aids comes from antiquated (but understandable) notions of what hearing aids do and how they influence one’s personal appearance. It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology employed by contemporary hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Some hearing aids can even monitor your health and fitness biometrics and translate them in real time as well as other additional features.
- The technology of modern hearing aids is pretty advanced. Your hearing aid will connect wirelessly with your phone, TV, and other smart devices thanks to Bluetooth® connectivity. This provides amplified volumes without feedback or noise.
- Modern hearing aids are generally very small and almost totally imperceptible to the naked eye. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They aren’t the big and cumbersome units they used to be. They won’t even be seen by most people.
For many people, hearing aids feel like an extension of their smartphones or tablets. In this modern world, hearing aids are extremely useful and will help you enjoy activities like live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Advantages
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) mental equity. In other words, your brain health depends on you being capable of hearing clearly.
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 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 the volume up you don’t fill in the particular frequencies that are missing.
Getting treatment as soon as you start noticing hearing loss can help save your hearing, and understanding that will help convince people like Ted to seek help.
