There are certain things you can do to help support your family member in receiving hearing aids.
Hearing loss is a serious problem worldwide and has been linked to social isolation, depression, increased risk of falling and even dementia. Therefore, it is in the best interest for every individual with hearing loss to actually treat it; whether that is with hearing aids, surgery, or implantable devices (i.e. BAHA, Cochlear Implants). The most common and simplest form of treatment for hearing loss is hearing aids.
The first thing you need to do is to encourage your family member to see a hearing care professional in order to get a baseline hearing test. The initial goal of this appointment is not to convince the family member to get hearing aids. The intent of this appointment is for the hearing care professional to diagnose a hearing loss if there is one.
It is up to the hearing care professional to help your family member to understand their hearing loss and to realise how that hearing loss has been impacting their life and their loved ones lives.
Hearing loss is much more than just a communication problem. It is a much larger health issue that requires professional attention and treatment.
Convincing a family member that they have a hearing loss will be one of the most difficult things that you will ever do. However, considering the magnitude of untreated hearing loss and how it negatively impacts virtually every aspect of someone’s life, it is also the most important thing that you will ever do.
We at the Hearing Institute of Ontario will help guide you in every step. Let us help you make sense of your family member’s hearing loss. Please contact us at 1-888-664-2999.
