Time to read: 3 minutes
Hearing loss can often be the beginning of domestic disharmony.
One spouse says the other is ignoring them and missing important conversations. Or perhaps the complaint is that the other is not being sociable or that the TV is far too loud.
It might be readily apparent to everyone but the individual that they have hearing loss, so what can you do to encourage a loved one to do something about their hearing without nagging and creating resentment.
We have some recommendations here:
Take the emotion out of it
It is important that your loved one doesn’t see your endeavours to address their hearing loss as a criticism of them as a person.
Explain that you want the very best for them and doing something as simple as taking a hearing test is one way to set your mind, and theirs, to rest.
Value Hearing has an online hearing test you can do from the comfort of your own home. If the test indicates they have a hearing loss, you might suggest doing a more comprehensive test in a controlled environment.
You might offer to take the test also as part of the bargaining process. You might just be surprised. We’ve seen a number of wives accompany husbands to appointments for a hearing test only to discover both of them have hearing loss.
Discuss the risks
Untreated hearing loss is more than just reduced ability of one of your five important senses.
Research has revealed that untreated hearing loss is linked to conditions including memory loss, dementia, anxiety and depression.
Social isolation is also a very serious, negative effect of not being able to hear properly - not to mention the embarrassment of not answering appropriately because you’ve not understood what was being asked.
It is clear that someone in the family has hearing loss and the more one nags, the less inclined the "offending party" is to have a hearing test, let alone do anything about a diagnosed hearing loss.
Accent the positives
Wearing hearing aids will help you hear and enjoy conversations more fully. With better hearing, they may also make hobbies and interests easier and, as a result, more enjoyable.
Today’s hearing aids are small, discreet, and powerful. In fact, they’re computers in miniature, performing complex calculations in a fraction of a second to deliver the best possible sound programmed to your very specific hearing loss.
If that’s not amazing enough, hearing aids can also do ‘cool’ things such as stream the TV and phone calls directly to your ears. If you enjoy listening to music or podcasts, you can do that too.
Hearing aids also come with phone apps to make custom programs so the settings are exactly as you like it for various listening situations.
Some hearing aids come with additional features such as a ‘find my phone’ and ‘find my hearing aids’ button. Others have one-touch phone answering, even health monitors.
Create opportunities for empowerment
In our experience, clients who do the best from hearing aids are ones who approach it with confidence. And confidence comes from knowing what to expect - knowing the price, how to find a great clinician, understanding how hearing aids work, what to realistically expect, and how to take care of your aids.
We have a book - The Hearing Aid Buyer’s Guide which you can order from us for free which answers all of these questions.
Encourage your loved one to address issues with hearing through empowering choices.
Read more:
- Do you really need a hearing test
- What to expect from a comprehensive hearing assessment
- Screening Assessment
- Success with hearing aids - what it looks like and how to achieve it
- Choosing which hearing aids works for you
- Five hearing aid benefits that have nothing to do with hearing loss
- How Do hearing aids work?
- What to expect from hearing aids if you've never worn them before
- How To Help Someone With Hearing Loss
- How to talk to a loved one about hearing loss
