Talking about hearing loss with a loved one can be tricky to bring up. It is only natural that you want what is best for them and making sure they can hear what is going on and understand the world the way they once did is something you can help them with. The last thing you want to do is to upset them. However, you may be aware that they are experiencing hearing loss affecting their quality of life.
As we age, our hearing diminishes. In comparison, this isn’t true for everyone. Nearly 42% of people over 50 have some level of hearing loss, and this increases to around 71% in those aged 70 and over. In the US, nearly 16% of the population report hearing loss; however, only one-third of people who could benefit from purchasing a hearing end will up wearing one.
What is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss can be temporary – such as after an injury or illness. Hearing loss can be permanent – when the ear has sustained damage that affects how it processes sounds, leading to reduced hearing. People experience hearing loss in different ways, and there are several causes of hearing loss. You must understand there could be many ways in which your loved one has ended up losing their hearing in whole or part.
From working in loud environments, experiencing an injury or even down to a health condition, those who have had meningitis can often experience hearing loss due to becoming ill. Once you understand how hearing loss can happen, you might be able to support your concerns by giving clear and precise suggestions as to how or when this happened.
Understand Their Concerns
When explaining hearing loss to a loved one, you need to be as empathetic as possible and listen to anything they say regarding their hearing and health. While you can go into detail about what hearing loss is and how they may have sustained damage to their hearing, what you won’t know is how it is currently impacting them. Allow the conversation to flow freely and allow discussions around the topic of their hearing without becoming pushy or upset. You will have let them know you are concerned and hopefully given them some valuable information delivered calmly and positively.
Research Hearing Aids and Hearing Aid Fittings
The more you know about a topic, the better informed you are, and this can be true when discussing hearing loss with loved ones. It may be that they are unaware of the advances made in this area, and to them, wearing a hearing aid is still that substantial clunky plastic device reminiscent of the 70s and 80s. Modern hearing aids are smaller, sleeker and much more discreet than their older counterparts. In many cases, other people won’t even know they are wearing a hearing aid if this is a concern.
Finding out about the different styles of hearing aids available, how the fitting process works and how long it can take will help you when discussing hearing loss as you will be able to provide more information to inform your loved one of their options. There are some impressive features in hearing aids these days that can significantly improve a personas quality of life.
How Much Are Hearing Aids?
It is good to know about the different styles of hearing aids and what is involved in a hearing aid
fitting. But a significant barrier to some people is the cost of having a hearing aid fitted.
Look into the typical costs and any payment plans on offer can be helpful in this situation, as can researching local audiologists in your area to ensure you are paying a fair price and receiving the best service.
Knowing the options is vital when talking to loved ones about hearing loss. Hearing aid costs may include all appointments before, during and after the hearing aid is fitted as one fixed cost. Other times it can be made up of different prices depending on the treatment plan. You may want to look into their health insurance to see if hearing aids are covered on their plan that may help with the cost.
If you are concerned your loved one has hearing loss and want to help them, you can contact one of our audiologists who can advise you on how to discuss this topic by calling Natural Hearing Centers at (888) 221-9156.
