How to Persuade a Loved One to Try Hearing Aids

If you and your loved one have a suspicion or even a confirmed diagnosis that they are experiencing hearing loss, then hearing aids are usually the best recommendation offered by your audiologist. They can have a profound impact on the quality of life of the person who wears them, to a life-changing degree.

However, some people can be hesitant to use them. A lot of people expect complications as a result of any kind of treatment. Others can be stubborn about doing fine without them. Some people just don’t like change, even if is positive.

If you want to persuade a loved one to try hearing aids, here are a few tips that you can follow.

Show Compassion and Care

You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, as they say. Trying to guilt your loved one into using hearing aids or confronting them with potential consequences isn’t often a good strategy. Instead, talking to them about how much you value your relationship, showing concern for their wellbeing and being honest about the effects you’ve already seen of their hearing loss can help them better assess their situation.

Hear Out Their Concerns

It’s important that your loved one feels heard. Give them the space and ask them directly what concerns they might have about hearing aids. Some of the tips below are going to address many of the common ones but, even if you don’t have an immediate answer, you can always do your research and come back with a good answer later. Don’t make assumptions about what they might be thinking or they’re just more likely to dig their heels in. Listen, be compassionate, and speak directly to their concerns.

Ease Their Worries About the Cost

It’s only natural for people to have some concerns about the cost of any kind of medical treatment. If your loved one brings this up, then you can assure them that there are plenty of affordable hearing aids of decent quality that they can get. What’s more, there may be payment plans and other options that can help to deal with the initial cost as well. Hearing aids are accessible, and it’s important for them to know that.

Tell them About the Positive Effects of Hearing Aids

While, on paper, hearing aids improve their hearing experience, they do much more than that. They can improve the quality of life in a wide variety of ways. They might feel more confident going out and doing things they have stopped doing because they are worried about how their hearing loss affects them. They can improve communication with people and, as a result, improve their relationships.

They can better enjoy music as well as TV and go to the store without needing any help. Don’t focus too much on the negatives that they might currently experience, but on the positives that they could experience with hearing aids.

Give Them Time

While encouraging them to make an appointment with an audiologist is a good idea, offer it out as an option, don’t try to get them to do it then and there. People can understandably get defensive when they’re confronted with an issue, especially one as personal as their hearing health. But often, you simply need to present your logic and then give them time to chew it over. Take a soft approach, being honest but not being pushy.

Offer To Be There If They Need You

One of the concerns that some people might have is going to see an audiologist or seeking treatment alone. This can be especially true of older people who haven’t seen an audiologist in a while. As such, you can assure them that you will be there to help them. You can accompany them to the appointment and offer to take notes or ask questions if they don’t remember to during the consultation. A lot of people can feel a little iffy about going to see any medical professional and some help can do a lot to make them more comfortable.

Call an Audiologist

At the end of the day, it is your loved one’s decision as to whether or not they wear hearing aids. But having a reassuring, competent and experienced professional on your side can help. As such, you can get in touch with the team at Baker Audiology & Hearing Aids by calling us at (605) 610-3466. We’re here to help answer any questions and to arrange an appointment when your loved one wants to take that step.