You know it’s time to begin talking about hearing aids when your dad stops talking on the phone because he has a hard time hearing or your mom always laughs late to the punchline of a joke. Although a quarter of individuals aged 65 to 74 and 50 percent of individuals over the age of 75 have detectable hearing loss, getting them to recognize their troubles can be another matter altogether. Most individuals won’t even detect how much their hearing has changed because it worsens gradually. Even if they do know it, acknowledging that they need hearing aids can be a huge step. The following advice can help you frame your discussion to ensure it hits the right note.
How to Consider Hearing Aids With a Loved One
View it as a Process, Not a Single Conversation
When preparing to have a discussion about a family member’s hearing loss, you have lots of time to ponder what you will say and how the person may react. As you consider this, remember that it will be a process not one conversation. It may take a number of discussions over weeks or months for your loved one to acknowledge they’re suffering from a hearing problem. There’s nothing wrong with that! Let the conversations continue at their own pace. The last thing you want to do is push your loved one into getting hearing aids before they are prepared. If somebody won’t use their hearing aids, they don’t do much good after all.
Find Your Moment
Pick a time when your loved one is calm and alone. If you pick a time when other people are around you may draw too much attention to your loved one’s hearing loss and they may feel like they’re being ganged up on and attacked. A one-on-one talk with no background noise also helps ensure that your loved one hears you correctly and can engage in the conversation.
Take a Clear And Straightforward Approach
It’s beneficial not to be vague and unclear about your concerns. Be direct: “Lets’s have a talk about your hearing mom”. Mention situations where they’ve insisted people are mumbling, had a hard time following tv programs or asked people to repeat themselves. Talk about how your loved one’s hearing problems impact their day-to-day life instead of emphasizing their hearing itself. You could say something like “You don’t seem to go out with your friends as much anymore, could that be because you have a hard time hearing them?”.
Acknowledge Their Concerns And Underlying Fears
Hearing impairment often corresponds to a larger fear of losing independence, particularly for older adults facing physical frailty or other age-related changes. If your loved one is reluctant to talk about hearing aids or denies the problem, try to understand where he or she is coming from. Let them know that you recognize how difficult this conversation can be. If the discussion begins to go south, wait until a different time.
Provide Help With Further Action
The most productive discussions about hearing loss happen when both parties work together to take the next steps. Part of your loved one’s reluctance to admit to hearing loss may be that he or she feels overwhelmed about the process of buying hearing aids. Provide your assistance to make the transition as smooth as possible. Print out and rehearse before you talk. You can also give us a call to see if we accept your loved one’s insurance. Information about the commonness of hearing issues might help individuals who feel sensitive or ashamed about their hearing loss.
Realize That Hearing Aids Aren’t The End of The Process
So your talks were convincing and your loved one has agreed to explore hearing aids. Great! But there’s more to it than that. It takes time to adapt to hearing aids. Your loved one has to deal with a new device, new sounds and has to create new habits. Be an advocate during this adjustment period. Take seriously any issues your family member might have with their new hearing aids.
