It can be tough to watch someone you love deal with hearing loss, and it can be even tougher if they refuse to seek help for the condition. Shouted conversations, repeated words, misunderstandings and too-loud televisions are frustrating for anyone.
Your loved one may need some encouragement from their support network. As part of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, we want to help you and your loved one get the support you need to strengthen communication.
Why Some People Resist Getting Help for Hearing Loss
Resisting help for hearing loss is more common than you might think. Actually, only about 30% of adults who could benefit from hearing aids use them. That’s millions of people not getting the support they need! To effectively encourage your loved one to seek help, start by understanding why they’re resistant in the first place.
Here are some common reasons why people don’t seek help for hearing loss:
- They don’t realize it’s a problem, or they underestimate how big a problem it is. Our brains are incredible at adapting. When it comes to hearing loss, our brains can become accustomed to not hearing as well or make excuses to explain away the change. If your loved one says things like “I don’t have hearing loss, you all are mumbling all the time!” or “I know I have hearing loss, but it’s not that bad, I can manage,” they probably fall into this category.
- They’re embarrassed. It’s unfortunate, but signs of aging can often make people feel insecure or embarrassed. Hearing loss can happen to anyone at any age, but its strong association with aging can trigger those feelings in people.
- It’s overwhelming. It can be intimidating and overwhelming to begin any new health program, including hearing loss treatment. It’s common for people to resist big life changes like this, even when they know it’s good for them.
Strategies to Encourage Them to Seek Help
Here are some small things you could try to encourage your loved one to get their hearing checked. Whenever you bring it up, make sure you do so with compassion and make it clear that you’re there to support. Do not be accusatory or impatient.
Get Your Own Hearing Checked
This tip can go a long way in normalizing hearing health care and breaking the stigma around it. Moreover, you will subtly lead by example, which makes it easier to start the conversation, since you can lead with your own experience. Simply mentioning that you had your hearing checked or had a recent hearing test appointment can be effective, or you can try organizing a “Family Hearing Health Day” where you all get your hearing checked together.
Low-Stakes Checks
Seeking out help for hearing loss doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. You can start small by encouraging your loved one to take a free online hearing screener. These screeners won’t determine the severity of hearing loss, but they will quickly flag if hearing levels are in hearing loss range. Once they see that their hearing is below a healthy range, that might spur them to take the next step.
Gentle Suggestion
If your loved one tries to blame mishearing on something else (background noise, wind, mumbling, etc.), gently suggest they might need to get their hearing checked. This is not a call-out or an accusation, but a mere observation. If they refuse, let it go and try again later. But repeating this tactic may reinforce the idea that they’re missing more than they realize.
Make the Appointment
This one depends on some factors; it won’t work for everyone. If your loved one has openly admitted that they know they have hearing loss and will get to it “someday,” take the pressure off the first step and do it for them by booking a hearing test for them. On the day of their appointment, they may go willingly now that the initial hurdle has been dealt with.
Go With Them
Make yourself available to attend any hearing examinations your loved one goes to. Studies show that people are more likely to wear their hearing aids if a loved one comes with them. Be involved in their hearing loss treatment journey. Your presence at the clinic can be calming, empowering and even helpful, as you’ll be able to add your own insights.
Hearing loss doesn’t just affect one person—it affects their loved ones, too. If you and your loved one are ready to take the first step and schedule a hearing test, call us at Kampsen Hearing today. We look forward to helping you.