As your parents age, the nerves that transmit sound waves to the brain in the inner ear or cochlea wear out gradually. It gets to a point where normal pitch sounds become muffled, and they cannot determine what's happening around them. Sadly, many parents will be in denial and claim they don't need hearing aids – so how can you persuade them that they need hearing aids?
You can convince a parent that they need hearing aids by educating them about the signs and symptoms that warrant using hearing aids. Having this knowledge will help them identify the hearing loss signs they're experiencing. Next, you can explain the hearing aid options they have.
Having a hearing aid conversation with your parent can be daunting. To make it easy, the rest of this article discusses 11 tactics you can use to convince your parent that they need hearing aids.
1. Educate Them About Old Age Hearing Impairment Signs and Symptoms
Awareness of the signs and symptoms of a health condition makes someone willing to go for a medical checkup. But hearing loss is not like other diseases. Usually, no pain is involved, which may make your parent reluctant to accept that they need hearing help.
Some of the hearing impairment symptoms you should mention include:
- Inability to hear high-pitched sounds: When children and women talk, the elderly will feel like they are mumbling.
- Difficulty processing sounds in noisy backgrounds: The elderly cannot converse when other people are talking or when the TV or radio is on.
- Difficulty understanding sounds: Sometimes, seniors may hear you speak and lean toward you but not respond until you repeat your statement.
- Tinnitus: It is a common problem affecting 15% to 20% of older adults.
- Withdrawal: The inability to hear well makes conversations difficult, and the elderly will isolate themselves.
After explaining the above signs, you should also educate them about the adverse effects linked to hearing loss, including:
- Brain atrophy: A recent study from Johns Hopkins showed that hearing loss causes the wasting away of the brain.
- Loss of balance: Hearing loss mutes subtle cues that the ears pick up to help you balance.
- A decline in cognitive ability: The inability of the brain to process information faster leads to slow thinking.
2. Explain How Hearing Loss Is Affecting Others
When your parent is in denial or reluctant to use hearing aids, they may have no idea how their condition affects family members and friends.
- Frustration: Speaking to your parent becomes tiring because you have to speak loudly and sometimes repeat several times.
- Decrease in communication: If it has been a norm to have long conversations with your parent, it'll be humiliating to talk less to them.
- Stress and worry for your parent's safety: Hearing impairment elevates memory loss and balance, compromising your parent's safety.
3. Inform Them That a Hearing Problem Is a Common Problem in Old Age
Your parent may be reluctant to use hearing aids because they think hearing loss is an abnormal condition. You should change their thoughts by informing them that one in three people aged 65 to 74 has hearing loss.
4. Tell Your Parent About the Benefits of Hearing Aids
- Reduced risk of cognitive decline
- More independence
- Healthy relationships
- Minimal mental exhaustion
5. Address the Stigma Associated With Hearing Aids
Although the prevalence of hearing loss is high in adults aged 65 and above, a survey shows that 34% are ashamed of wearing hearing aids.
For internal stigma, you'll have to navigate your parent's fears with them. If the stigma is external, assure your parent that they can wear hearing aids that are not visible to other people.
6. Give Them Room To Process Their Condition
Instead of pushing them to make a rash decision, you should give them time to grieve and accept the situation.
7. Volunteer To Visit an Audiologist With Your Parent
Accompanying your parent to the hospital makes them feel more secure and supported.
8. Take the Audiology Test Together
You can encourage your parent to take the audiology test by doing it as a family. The test results will help clear their doubts.
9. Cover the Hearing Aids Costs
Parents without insurance may use cost as an excuse. On average, hearing aids cost between $1,000 and $4,000. The best gesture would be to volunteer to cover the total cost.
10. Give Them a Trial Run
If your parent doesn't believe hearing aids will give them a normal hearing experience, you can propose a trial run.
11. Be Empathetic About Their Condition
Practicing empathy with your parents when going through hearing loss provides them with a safe place to process their emotions.
Best Hearing Aids
If your parent finally accepts to use hearing aids, you can consider the following options:
Earrck Rechargeable Hearing Aids for Seniors
This hearing aid's large size and light weight make it suitable for seniors. Its rechargeable battery lasts for more than 35 hours.
iBstone Rechargeable Hearing Aid
If your parent prefers tiny hearing aids, the iBstone is the best option. It has a fingertip size that fits perfectly in the ear.
Final Thoughts
If your parents are in denial that they need to use hearing aids, the approach you use to convince them matters. Follow the tips in this post, choose an appropriate time when they are not stressed, and be mindful about your choice of words.
About Chip Mitchell
Chip Mitchell is the founder of Growing Gray USA. With over a decade of experience owning a home care company, he has helped hundreds of families navigate the complexities of caring for aging parents.
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