Watching sports with Ted is very difficult. He has the volume cranked up so high the walls shake, and you definitely can’t tune in to the game. All you notice is the roar of the crowd pounding against your body, punctuated by the ear-shattering staccato of the commentator’s play-by-play calls.
It isn’t by any means enjoyable. But for Ted, it’s a normal volume. He needs the TV to be incredibly loud so he can hear it, which makes it pretty obvious he needs a hearing aid. How to discuss this with him is the problem. It should be a simple conversation, but he seems excessively sensitive about the topic.
The following are a few tips that could help.
You Can Recommend he Gets a Basic Hearing Test
Ted needs a specialist to inform him about his hearing. He might not believe other people when they tell him he needs a hearing aid. If that’s the case, the trick will be convincing Ted (or anyone like him) to come see us.
One of the following strategies may help you do that:
- Try making him feel more at ease by letting him know that it’s just a simple screening. In the vast majority of 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.
- Offer to get a screening too. This can make beginning the dialogue easier. It’s possible you’ll discover that you’ve experienced some hearing loss, also (depending on how long you’ve been subjected to loud noise).
Talk About Behaviors Associated With Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is often indiscernible because it progresses so slowly. When this occurs, you might pick up certain behaviors without realizing it. By concentrating your conversation on those behaviors, you can subtly (or not so subtly) hint that Ted (or somebody like him) needs a hearing aid.
Try some of these approaches:
- You could tell him the 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 see the Big Game and that could be because the TV is turned up so loud.
- Point out that he’s been avoiding talking to family members and friends by phone because he has trouble hearing what they say.
- Mention that you’ve noticed how often you’re “translating” for him. It may happen like this: your friend says something at breakfast, Ted doesn’t hear or comprehend it, and you need to repeat the sentence to Ted because you’re closer to him.
When you have these talks focusing on these behaviors, not the disorder, will be the goal. Instead of discussing how Ted is experiencing hearing loss, point out how his hearing loss impacts people in his life.
Talk About Hearing Aid Technology
Antiquated ideas of how a hearing aid impacts your appearance and what hearing aids do, in some circumstances, leads to reluctance to wear one. It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology used by modern hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Some hearing aids can even track your health and fitness biometrics and translate them in real time as well as other added features.
- Modern hearing aids have an immense 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 noise and feedback.
- Modern hearing aids are usually extremely small and almost totally unseen to the naked eye. And, modern hearing aids are also comfortable to wear. They’re not bulky like they once were. Most individuals will probably never detect you’re wearing them.
Hearing aids, for many people, are an ideal extension to their other smart technology. Modern hearing aids are very useful pieces of technology that allow you to enjoy live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Benefits
Finally, take the 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 in the long run. 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.
Understanding that your hearing can be preserved by getting treatment when you first observe signs of hearing loss will help people like Ted feel comfortable seeking the help they need.