Hearing loss is increasingly widespread. Despite how common the condition is, many people are hesitant to accept that they have hearing loss and often even more reluctant to believe that they’re hearing is bad enough to require treatment.
When someone is struggling to accept their hearing loss, it’s often the people closest to them who can nudge them towards treatment. Let’s take a look at a couple of tips to help you talk to your partner about their hearing loss.
1. Talk About the Symptoms
Start your conversation by explaining the symptoms of hearing loss and which ones you’ve noticed your partner displaying. Common symptoms include:
- Talking about a ringing in the ears
- Trouble understanding speech
- Difficulty understanding children
- Turning the TV or radio up higher than is comfortable for others
- Skipping social events
It’s important to avoid framing the conversation as an accusation. Instead of saying things like “You can never hear me” or “You’re blasting the TV,” start the conversation softly. You could say, “I’ve noticed that you’re having trouble hearing me lately. Have you ever taken a hearing test?” Making sure that your partner doesn’t feel attacked or like they’re doing something wrong will start he conversation off on the right foot.
2. Explain the Benefits of Treatment
After discussing the symptoms, you can move on to the benefits of hearing loss treatment. Start with the ones that affect your relationship. Mention that hearing aids will help you communicate better and form a closer bond. Think about the things that hearing loss has stopped them from doing. For example, if they used to love going to happy hour at Marker 20 with their friends but stopped because it was too difficult to keep up, you could tell them about the benefits of hearing aids that isolate speech and suppress background noise.
A few extra benefits may include:
- Increased safety
- Easier work or school life
- Greater independence
If your partner agrees to get hearing aids, there’s one extra thing you can do: attend their appointment with them. A 2022 study found that hearing aid adoption was significantly more likely when patients attended their appointment with their partner. You can take notes for your partner, learn about their hearing aids, or just be a comforting presence as they navigate this new journey.
Don’t wait to enjoy a closer relationship with your loved one. Call Hampton Roads ENT ~ Allergy today to schedule a hearing test or treatment consultation.