How to Persuade a Loved One to Try Hearing Aids

Did you know approximately 48 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss? Of this figure, only one in five people who would benefit from wearing a hearing aid do. This leaves millions of people struggling daily due to reduced hearing, potentially impacting their quality of life.

Sadly, many people refuse to acknowledge hearing loss, and seeking help isn’t something they are actively doing to rectify the problem. However, hearing loss can impact your life in so many ways. If you are concerned that a loved one is experiencing hearing loss and could benefit from using a hearing aid, there are some things you can do to gently persuade them to visit an audiologist.

Persuading a Loved One to Wear a Hearing Aid

There are many ways to persuade a loved one to visit an audiologist to be assessed for a hearing aid. If you are struggling with this, read on for some helpful tips on broaching the subject.

Timing is Key

For your conversation to succeed, you need to ensure you are broaching the subject at the right time. Choose a time when they are in a good mood, and there is nothing to distract them.

If you try to bring it up when they aren’t in the right frame of mind, chances are your please will be rebuffed, and you will end up making the situation worse than it already is.

Be Empathetic

Before you even bring up the topic of wearing hearing aids, you must ensure you are doing so for the right reasons. That is not helping your loved ones improve their quality of life. So put yourself in their shoes and look at the situation from their point of view. How is this likely to be making them feel? How would you want someone to discuss something as sensitive as this with you?

The more you understand how your loved ones will respond and feel when you discuss your concerns, the easier it will be for you to discuss the issue calmly and with their best interests at heart.

Talk with Them, Not at Them

At times, when trying to coax people into doing something they are firmly against, it can end up like a lecture with people talking at them, not with them. Allow them to discuss their concerns calmly and try to have as many answers as possible.

They are likely worried about how others will respond to them if they wear a visible hearing aid. The process of having a hearing aid fitted might be worrying them, or they could have other concerns such as the cost. Whatever their hesitation is, make sure it becomes a discussion with all parties offering calm advice and solutions to the situation.

Understand the Process

To help convince your loved one to visit an audiologist for a hearing assessment and hearing aid fitting, it might be worth your while looking into the process. Hence, you know what to expect and can enlighten others on what they can expect to remove any fear about the process, from the hearing assessment to the fitting options and any adjustment period that follows once the hearing aid has been fitted.

Accompanying your loved one on their appointment also enables you to help them remember any questions or concerns they had about the hearing test process, as well as hearing aids. There are a variety of different styles and features to choose from, and having a loved one nearby can help them sort through the options.

Discuss the Benefits

There are so many benefits to having hearing aids fitted, from being able to join in conversations to being able to talk on the phone and not struggle to understand people in loud, crowded areas. A well-fitted and personalized hearing aid can bring back so much confidence to a person and allow them to enjoy their life as they did before experiencing hearing loss. Plus, with technological advancements, hearing aids are more discreet than ever, if this is a concern.

Offer Assistance

Be there for them every step of the way and let them know you are there to join them at appointments, fittings, and anytime they need to talk about what is happening. Never understand the value of support when broaching any type of medical care and intervention. It really can make a world of difference.

If you want to find out more about getting your loved one an appointment for a hearing aid fitting, you can contact Hearing Aid Consultants of North Mississippi on this phone number: (662) 234-1337.