Watching sports with Ted is very difficult. He has the volume turned up so high the walls shake, and you certainly can’t tune in to the game. The commentator’s play-by-play calls are an ear shattering staccato against the earsplitting thunder of the crowd.
It isn’t in any way enjoyable. But the volume seems fine for Ted. He needs the TV to be tremendously loud so he can hear it, which makes it pretty clear he needs a hearing aid. How to talk to him about it 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 Suggest he Gets a Basic Hearing Exam
Ted needs to learn more about his hearing from an expert. He may not believe other people when they tell him he needs a hearing aid. In that situation, the trick will be convincing Ted (or anyone like him) to come see us.
You may be able to do that by utilizing one of the following strategies:
- Attempt to make him feel more at ease by letting him know that it’s just a simple assessment. In most cases, hearing screenings are quick and easy. Ted will receive his results on an audiogram, which will analyze his hearing by frequency. We can detail what the results indicate.
- Suggest the two of you go together for back-to-back screenings. This is a beneficial way to broach a new medical situation. You may discover that you also have some degree of hearing impairment (it could depend on how long you’ve been subjected to a high-volume sound).
Talk About Behaviors Associated With Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is often indiscernible because it progresses so gradually. When this occurs, you might pick up certain behaviors without knowing it. You can hint in a discreet way that Ted needs a hearing aid by focusing on these behaviors.
Try some of these strategies:
- Point out instances where you need to translate what somebody said. Here’s a hypothetical example: your friend says something at breakfast, Ted doesn’t hear or understand it, and you need to repeat the sentence to Ted because you’re closer to him.
- Point out that he’s been evading talking to family members and friends by phone because he has difficulty hearing what they say.
- Letting him know that his family has noticed him straining to hear. Each year it seems like fewer and fewer people are going over to see the Big Game and that could be because the TV is so loud.
The goal during these discussions is to keep your discussion centered on these behaviors rather than the ailment. 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
Antiquated ideas of how a hearing aid affects your appearance and what hearing aids do, in some cases, results in reticence to wear one. It may not be a bad idea to emphasize the innovative technology utilized by modern hearing aids.
The following are some examples:
- Usually, contemporary hearing aids are so small you can’t even see them. Not only that, modern hearing aids are amazingly comfortable for the wearer. They’re not bulky like they once were. Most individuals will most likely never detect you’re wearing them.
- Some hearing aids have extra features, including the ability to translate in real-time or track key biometrics better than some commercial fitness trackers.
- The technology of modern hearing aids is pretty advanced. Thanks to connectivity, for instance, your hearing aids will pair easily with your phone or even your TV speakers. This delivers amplified volumes without feedback or noise.
For many individuals, 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 such as live streaming.
Promote The Long-Term Benefits
Finally, take some time to point out the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline. To put it bluntly, hearing is crucial to a person’s mental 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 up the volume you don’t fill in the particular frequencies that are missing.
Getting treatment as soon as you begin experiencing hearing loss can help save your hearing, and knowing that will help convince people like Ted to seek help.