Sometimes, elderly people can be very stubborn (well, younger people can too ;).
But it’s easy to understand why the elderly are often perceived as being more stubborn. After all, it can be hard to admit to yourself and others that your body isn’t functioning as it used to. Or they way you want it to.
One common issue that affects many of us as we age is our hearing. According to a study published in the International Journal of Audiology, 80 percent of adults between the ages of 55 and 74 would benefit from wearing a hearing aid.
Some individuals deny that their hearing has deteriorated. It is a matter of vanity for others: wearing such earwear is a sign that they are getting up there in age.
If you have a loved one whose hearing is on the decline, it can be challenging to have a conversation with them about getting hearing aids. To help, below you’ll find some advice on how to tell someone they need hearing aids that we hope will make things easier for you.
How To Tell Someone They Need Hearing Aids
1. Present Beneficial Facts
If you wish to persuade another individual to use hearing aids, an audiologist in Atlanta named Maria Wynens recommends that you remove any emotional aspects from the discussion and replace them with evidence from studies.
Next, remind them that hearing aid use is associated with several positive outcomes, many of which have been the subject of extensive research and study. These outcomes include a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia, a stronger marriage, etc.
2. Convince Them, If Not For Their Sake, Then For The Family
The choice to use hearing aids is a highly personal one. However, the person who actually wears the hearing aids isn’t the only one who will be affected by the decision. There is a great deal more to it than that.
Try to persuade them that using hearing aids will either improve their ability to communicate with their family or at the very least prevent it from getting any worse.
3. Tell Them That It Is For Their Safety
Dealing with untreated or ignored hearing loss can significantly impact a person’s health and safety. Accidents are more likely to occur when the driver of a vehicle cannot hear emergency sirens or the honking of other drivers.
If multiple medical professionals and specialists cannot communicate with one another effectively, this can lead to instructions being misunderstood or even ignored, which can have severe consequences.
These are just a few of the many potential drawbacks associated with ignoring hearing loss treatment options. In addition, it has been demonstrated that if you have hearing loss that is not treated, there is a possibility that auditory deprivation will occur in your brain.
4. Bonus: Present Them Cool Features Of Hearing Aids
The hearing aids of today are way beyond those of past generations. Today’s hearing aid options are sleek, versatile, and multipurpose, similar to a Swiss knife.
Nowadays, hearing aids come with a wide variety of features that improve the user’s quality of life and make their experience more enjoyable.
For instance, many feature a Bluetooth connection, which can be used with wireless headsets and earbuds. That enables you to stream sound from your smartphone, laptop, or TV directly into your ear. You can also use this connection to play music.
Some of them also have fitness tracking, determining your activity level and the number of steps you take each day. A personal interpreter or even a fall alert is an additional feature that some hearing aids offer.
How To Approach this Topic
Finally, how to begin? Well initiating the conversation can be daunting if you have a family member who is resistant to hearing aids. It can help to start with a hearing test.
Such tests are administered by an audiologist.
Additionally, active listening is crucial. Pay attention to what your relative has to say. Do not make any attempt to be dominant, and do not start an argument.
Ultimately approaching this topic from a place of love and care will go a long way.
And there you have it, our tips on how to tell someone they need hearing aids. We hope that this has been insightful, and wish you good luck with your efforts.