You know it’s time to talk to your loved one about needing a hearing aid, but now what? Your heart is heavy, and you’re worried they might be offended. But communication is essential. Talking about a hearing problem with a loved one is necessary and can also be an opportunity for healing and understanding. So here are some ways to bring up the idea of a hearing aid to someone you care about.
Express your concerns about hearing loss calmly.
Discussing hearing loss with a loved one is never easy. However, expressing your concern while maintaining a calm and comforting tone can help you get your point across.
Bring it up in a quiet room with no distractions, so your loved one can hear you. Let them know you are concerned about their hearing loss, health, and well-being.
Remind them that hearing aids are safe and effective solutions, not something to be embarrassed about. Emphasize how many people wear these devices and that they’ve become small enough to be unnoticeable.
Don’t blame the person for the hearing loss.
It helps to remember many medical reasons for hearing loss, including a person’s genes, illnesses, medications, and general health. For example, suppose your loved one is experiencing hearing loss from exposure to loud noise or other preventable causes. In that case, they may already feel guilty for how loud noises have impacted their listening skills.
Rather than blaming your loved one for the hearing loss, focus on solutions and working together. Avoid pointing out potential problems stemming from hearing loss by finding ways to help your loved one with this new challenge. For example: “I’m going to sit across from you in restaurants so it will be easier for you to hear and lip-read.”
If they’re not asking questions, encourage them to.
Be patient. Don’t get frustrated or impatient if they first don’t understand hearing loss. It’s normal because it can be a confusing process. Instead, remain empathetic and be a good listener. Address fears about change, embarrassment, isolation, and stigma. As with any other tough conversation, it’s vital to have empathy and understand that this is a significant change for your loved one.
Be compassionate and empathetic.
Remind them that they’re not alone. Hearing loss affects a wide range of people, not just the elderly. According to the National Institutes of Health, 15% of people over 18 have problems hearing. In addition, hearing loss is almost twice as common in men as in women. Help them understand that hearing loss can affect anyone at any age, and hearing aids are effective treatments.
Be open to options other than hearing aids.
Some hearing loss is so slight that your loved one may never need a hearing aid. In this case, there are other options to help them hear better, such as assistive listening devices like telephone amplifiers or cochlear implants for more severe hearing loss patients. So, seeing an audiologist before conversing with your loved one about hearing aids is a good idea. By opening up the conversation, you will help them find their best solution for better hearing.
Understand what they’re going through as they adjust to using hearing aids.
Unlike surgery or medications that can alter the course of certain conditions or even cure them, hearing aids cannot cure hearing loss–they can only make sounds louder. Hearing aids are tools that help amplify sounds so the brain can interpret them better.
Hearing aids take time to get used to, but patience is vital. If your loved one has trouble adjusting, there are many things you can do to help ease the process.
Please encourage them to wear their hearing aid regularly and in different environments (e.g., at home, work, and when out with friends). The more they use it, the quicker they will adjust.
Offer them support by asking how they are doing and what type of challenges they experience while wearing their hearing aids. Maybe they need someone to talk things through with or someone willing to listen.
Approach hearing loss with sensitivity and empathy.
People might not want to wear a hearing aid for many reasons. For example, hearing aids can be expensive, and some people don’t want to spend the money on them. However, research shows that untreated hearing loss is related to dementia, depression, and falls. So, as you can see, getting a loved one experiencing hearing loss is essential to see an audiologist. They’ll thank you later.
Sources:
“Quick Statistics About Hearing | NIDCD.” nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing.
“Statistics About Hearing Loss And Hearing Aids – Updated ….” aginginplace.org/hearing-aids/statistics-about-hearing-loss-and-hearing-aids/.
“Charts and Tables for Hearing Statistics – NIDCD.” nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/hearing-charts-tables.
