In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 7.1% of adults aged 45 and over used a hearing aid. If you’ve recently made a choice to become one of the millions to treat your hearing loss with hearing aids, congratulations! They are an excellent investment in your personal well-being and overall health.
However, just because you know the benefits of hearing aids doesn’t mean that you feel entirely sure how to talk to people about them. Let’s go over a few tips to help make discussing your hearing loss and hearing aids with others easier.
Three Ways to Make Talking About Your Hearing Aids Easier 
- Share your hearing loss right away. Your close friends and family probably already know about your hearing loss, but if this is the first time you are talking to them with hearing aids, let them know as soon as it feels right. Not only does it save you time wondering when to bring it up, but it also can be helpful if you’re still adjusting to using them. Additionally, even with hearing aids, there still might be things you miss, especially in louder environments like Red Window or other popular San Francisco spots. It can be helpful for people to know that so they don’t assume you’re ignoring them if you don’t hear something they say.
- Talk about helpful communication strategies. Bringing up your hearing loss can be easier if it leads to a discussion about ways people can communicate effectively with you. You can mention to the person you’re talking to that though you use hearing aids, it can still be helpful if they look directly at you when speaking or make sure that they have your attention before saying something important.
- Discuss your favorite hearing aid features. It’s easy to talk about something when we’re excited about it, and modern hearing aids give a lot of reasons to feel excited. Whether you rave about the ability to stream music and phone calls directly into your device or talk about how easy it is to adjust settings from an app on your phone, this enthusiasm removes the stigma of hearing aids for you and the person you’re with.
How To Know When Hearing Loss Treatment Is Right For You
Many people with hearing loss have the condition for years before seeking treatment. Most cases tend to progress gradually, and the signs can be easy to ignore or shrug off at first.
However, if you find yourself struggling more and more to follow conversations or hear what’s being said when you watch TV, make an appointment for a hearing test. The earlier hearing loss is diagnosed, the more successful treatment options, like hearing aids, will likely be.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call San Francisco Audiology today.