Navigating the Hearing Test Talk: A Guide for Encouraging Loved Ones

Is a loved one resistant to getting the hearing care they need?

The good news is that you can help your loved one jump this hurdle. Sometimes, all it takes to get them on the path to improving their hearing is a compassionate invite to a discussion.

Try this three-step course of action to help send you and your loved one on a journey of acceptance that leads to better hearing and a greatly improved quality of life.

Guiding Loved Ones to Better Hearing: A Three-Step Approach

1. Acknowledge

An older couple holding hands while discussing hearing loss

Getting them to acknowledge their hearing loss in the first place can be difficult, so a gentle and respectful approach is key. Using hearing aids is a deeply personal decision. Making them feel like they’re not alone can show them it’s their choice to make.

One and a half billion people — 20% of the world’s population — have some degree of hearing loss.1

A great way to speak to your loved one about hearing loss is to take the focus off the negative and highlight the benefits of better hearing. Nobody likes to be left out! Not being able to hear well can leave a loved one out of important moments in life, and nobody wants that. Your spouse may pass up a career change because she knows she can’t take sales orders accurately over the phone. Perhaps your father avoids holiday parties because it’s too difficult to join conversations.

How do you put a positive spin on these potential losses? Discuss with them the great things that could happen in their career or the good times they’ll have joining in holiday festivities! If they wear glasses, ask them if they’d ever consider leaving their vision unchecked. Could they live without their glasses on a daily basis? That may help put the level of necessity into perspective.

2. Educate

A mature couple looks at research on hearing loss while having coffee on their kitchen floor

What are the signs of hearing loss? Ask your loved one these simple questions:

  • Do you often hear people talking but simply have difficulty understanding them?
  • Do you sometimes struggle to hear clearly amid background noise?
  • Do you occasionally have trouble following the conversation in small groups?

If they answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s time to see a hearing professional.

Lean on the Research

Help your loved one understand that hearing loss affects more than just being able to hear people speak. Hearing loss affects other facets of their health.

For example, the National Institute on Aging published an article2 which details the many ways hearing loss can affect cognitive health. Quote to them, “Studies have shown that older adults with hearing loss have a greater risk of developing dementia than older adults with normal hearing*.” You can follow that up with other data, like the fact that older adults with hearing loss tend to lose their cognitive abilities more rapidly (including memory and concentration) than those with no hearing loss or those who use hearing-restorative devices, like hearing aids. They may even flinch at the words “hearing aids.”

Wow them with all the new technology available. These aren’t your grandpa’s hearing aids — the latest devices not only look more sleek and subtle than they did years ago, but they can do fancy new tricks. Audio streaming via Bluetooth technology has been introduced into many hearing aids. You can pair them to a phone, your laptop, and even directly to your TV, with no extra gadgets.

Recently, research has highlighted the health problems linked to hearing loss. Looking at the stats below, it’s more important than ever to work hearing health into your overall health goals.

Hearing Is Connected to the Entire Body

Visual representation of hearing loss, illustrating its related health issues' effects on the human body


BALANCE:
2.4X higher risk of falling among older adults with hearing loss3

BONES:
Osteoporosis may mean a nearly 2X higher risk of hearing loss4

BRAIN:
35% greater dementia risk in those with hearing loss5

CIRCULATION:
There’s a connection between high blood pressure and hearing loss6

DIABETES:
Hearing loss is 2X as common in those with diabetes7

HEART:
Hearing loss is associated with cardiovascular disease and risk factors8

KIDNEYS:
Moderate chronic kidney disease and hearing loss are linked9

TINNITUS:
Hearing loss can lead to tinnitus, which may affect as many as 1 in 310

These total-body connections make regular hearing evaluations critical to help catch potential problems early. And with improved hearing linked to better cognitive functioning in older adults, the time to act is now.

3. Support

An older couple has a pleasant consultation with an audiologist

Offer to drive them or just ride along to their hearing care appointment. Tell them you’ll go in to see the doctor with them. Suggest that you sit and take notes for them so they can concentrate on being examined. Come from a place of service and support. Remind them that you are here because you care.

Let them know you love them, care about them, and want to keep them out of danger. Untreated hearing loss creates a safety hazard for them and the people they encounter throughout their day. For example, it can affect their ability to drive safely, as honking horns and police sirens go unheard. Having someone you love continually put in harm’s way is stressful for you and for them, especially when all they need to do is visit their local audiologist and come up with a plan to tackle their hearing challenges.

Make Sure They Know They Aren’t Facing This Challenge Alone

Here are some tips for broaching the subject of hearing care to a resistant person:

  • Ask how you can help. Come from a place of service.
  • Gently alert them to the downsides of not being able to hear well.
  • Laugh! Keep the conversation light.
  • Be patient. People with hearing loss may also be frustrated by their condition.
  • Stay positive and relaxed.
  • Don’t give up. It may take several conversations to get them on board.

No one likes to be the bad guy, but a few moments of awkwardness and a little risk could turn one conversation into a new lease on life and better hearing for your loved one. Start the conversation today!

Is Your Loved One Ready to Begin Their Journey to Better Hearing?

Contact our hearing professionals today to begin.