“If I had a hearing problem, I’d be the first to know.” You might have heard this if you have tried to encourage someone near you to seek help for their hearing loss. Because it comes on so slowly, spouses, family, friends, and co-workers usually notice hearing loss before the affected person.
How to deal with the issue and encourage that person to get the help they need can be frustrating. Because I know that I can provide the help they need, I’m eager to help the family, friends, and co-workers of those with a hearing loss in Lacey, WA, with their dilemma.
Here are some tips on how to encourage your loved one to start their journey to better hearing.
Educate Yourself First
There are a ton of stigmas and myths surrounding hearing loss, hearing care, hearing aids, and all things associated with hearing issues. You have to prepare yourself to respond to these objections by knowing why people fail to recognize hearing loss, avoid hearing assessments, and detest the thought of having to wear hearing aids.
Educating yourself enhances your capacity to respond rationally, rather than emotionally, to their objections.
Patience and Compassion
Because your loved one already sees their hearing loss as a weakness or defect, they are apt to be defensive.
How you approach the subject and respond to the backlash you receive is the key to your long-term objective.
An attitude of patience and compassion will win them over in time. Show patience and compassion by:
- Addressing the issue during a moment of calm (rational), not the person in the heat of the moment (emotional).
- Encouraging them to visit a hearing care professional to answer their questions/concerns.
- Pointing out that better hearing leads to less dependence on others.
- Offering to go along and have a hearing assessment with them.
- Making them aware that hearing loss can lead to cognitive decline, dementia, and other serious health problems.
Be A Confidant And Advocate
A person struggling with hearing loss feels damaged and helpless.
Consequently, if you confront them with their problem, you further strip away their dignity. Rather than pushing them to submit to what you want (regardless of your good intentions), be on their side.
Become someone they can confide in and become a willing advocate, encouraging greater independence and boosting their self-worth.
Use Community Resources
Many local health fairs include hearing screenings. Attend a health fair with your loved one and encourage a hearing test as part of an all-inclusive approach to their overall health.
If you know your loved one’s primary physician or another trusted healthcare provider, recruit them to help encourage a hearing assessment because their credibility can go a long way to help your cause.
The testimony of family and friends who use hearing aids can also help debunk some of the myths and misconceptions associated with hearing loss and hearing care.
South Sound Audiology Is Here To Help
We are well aware that getting a loved one to seek help for their hearing loss is a major challenge, but we are also certain that proper hearing care has the potential to change their life.
Consequently, the team and I at South Sound Audiology are eager to support family, friends, and co-workers with the difficult task of encouraging those you love to seek help.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for additional information, advice, or support as you work to help your loved one start their journey to better hearing.
