When your mother is always a couple of seconds too late to react to the punchline of a joke or your father stops talking on the phone because it’s too difficult to hear, it’s time to talk about hearing aids. Although hearing loss is detectable in a quarter of people between the ages of 65 and 74 and 50% of people over 75, it can be an altogether different matter getting them to acknowledge their hearing problems. Most people won’t even detect how much their hearing has changed because it worsens slowly. And even if they are aware of their hearing loss, it can be a big step getting them to acknowledge they need hearing aids. If you want to make that discussion easier and more productive, observe the following advice.
How to Talk About 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 a lot of time to ponder what you will say and how the person may respond. As you consider this, remember that it will be a process not one discussion. It may take a number of discussions over weeks or months for your loved one to acknowledge they have a hearing issue. There’s nothing wrong with that! Let the discussions proceed at their own pace. The last thing you want to do is force your loved one into getting hearing aids before they are prepared. After all, hearing aids do no good if someone refuses to wear them.
Find Your Moment
When your loved one is alone and relaxed would be the best time. Holidays or large get-togethers can be stressful and may draw more attention to your family member’s hearing problems, making them hypersensitive to any imagined attack. A one-on-one talk with no background noise also helps ensure that your loved one hears you correctly and can participate in the conversation.
Take a Clear And Direct Approach
Now isn’t the time to beat around the bush with vague statements about your worries. Be direct: “Mom, I’d like to speak with you concerning your hearing”. Mention circumstances where they’ve insisted people are mumbling, had a hard time following tv shows or asked people to repeat themselves. Rather than talking about your loved one’s hearing itself, focus on the effect of hearing problems on their day-to-day life. For example, “I’ve noticed that you don’t socialize as often with your friends, and I wonder if your hearing issue has something to do with that”.
Be Sensitive to Their Underlying Fears And Concerns
Hearing impairment often corresponds to a broader fear of losing independence, particularly for older adults facing physical frailty or other age-related changes. Be compassionate and attempt to understand where your loved one is coming from if they are resistant to the idea that they have hearing loss. Acknowledge how difficult this conversation can be. Waite until later if the conversation begins to go south.
Offer Next Steps
When both people work together you will have the most successful conversation about hearing impairment. The process of getting hearing aids can be really overwhelming and that may be one reason why they are so hesitant. Provide your support to make the change as smooth as you can. Print out and rehearse before you talk. You can also give us a call to see if we take your loved one’s insurance. Some people might feel self-conscious about needing hearing aids so letting them know that hearing loss is more common than they think.
Know That The Process Doesn’t End With Hearing Aids
So your talks were compelling and your loved one has agreed to look into hearing aids. Great! But there’s more to it than that. Adjusting to life with hearing aids will take time. Your loved one has new sounds to manage, new devices to take care of, and perhaps some old habits to unlearn. Be an advocate during this adjustment time. If your family member is dissatisfied with the hearing aids, take those issues seriously.