How to Convince a Loved One to Seek Professional Help

Many people see hearing loss as a sign of aging, so it may be hard to confront them about it. What’s more, hearing loss often sets in gradually.

As a result, people might not notice that their hearing is declining. Hearing-impaired people don’t necessarily realize that they don’t hear as well as they used to. They might believe that it’s others who are mumbling or articulating poorly. This is compounded by the fact that hearing-impaired people generally go through a period of denial. They experience a wide range of emotions and need time before taking the plunge and consulting a professional.

There is no magic recipe for motivating someone to consult a professional. Every person is unique and reacts differently. Delicacy will be the key to helping some people, while being direct will be more effective for others. The best way to make a loved one realize that they have hearing loss is to state facts and avoid using an accusatory tone, which may make the person feel attacked. Avoid sentences like “You don’t understand anything!”, “You always ask me to repeat myself!” or “You answer wrong all the time!” Instead, use first-person language: “I’ve noticed you’re more tired after group meetings”, “I think you have more trouble understanding than you used to”, etc.

It’s important to tell the person that you only want to help them improve their quality of life. To get them to take the first step, you can offer your help: for example, you can offer to make or go with them to appointments. This will certainly reduce the stress that the hearing-impaired person might feel.

A few more useful tips:

Hearing health professionals are there to support and help hearing-impaired people. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain from consulting a professional as early as possible!