When a parent starts turning up the TV and insisting everyone mumbles, most adult children’s first instinct is to talk them into hearing aids. But that’s usually the wrong way to start the conversation.
Jennifer La Borde, B.A., BC-HIS, and Chelsea Walters, B.S., BC-HIS, HearingLoss.com®-Certified providers, explain why denial about hearing loss is almost always rooted in fear rather than stubbornness. Fear of aging, fear of losing independence, and the lingering stigma of hearing aids all make it harder for a loved one to admit what family members have noticed for months or years.
They also share the signs worth watching for, the words that keep the conversation open instead of shutting it down, and why a hearing evaluation is simply a way to get answers rather than a commitment to treatment.
If you’ve been trying to have this conversation with someone you love, this is worth reading first.
