Overcoming Common Objections to Wearing a Hearing Aid

If you're trying to get a loved one to try out a hearing aid, it's not uncommon to run into some stubborn objections. Part of this is down to misinformation in the public sphere, some of it is natural resistance to change, and a lot of it is because many people are loathe to admit they have a problem in the first place. If you want a good place to start, it's the audiologist. If you or a person you love doesn't think they have a problem with their ears, it should be a cinch to pass a test saying so. Here are some other common objections and how to answer them.

I Would Know

This is probably the most common objection. People feel as though auditory loss hits in a rush that is impossible to ignore. The truth is that it usually comes on very gradually and it may be imperceptible to the individual at the time. You may not notice that you are saying, "What?" a lot more often or turning up the volume on your television. Even when a person does start noticing these things, they often blame them on external problems. The TV isn't as loud as it used to be because someone changed the audio settings. A family member has taken to mumbling. You have to make them see that they are the only one with the problem, hopefully by using a gentle tactic.

I'm Too Old

This one goes hand in hand with the next objection, even though they are at opposite ends of the spectrum. For some reason, there are those who believe their auditory loss is too advanced or that they are too old to benefit from a hearing aid. Now, it is true that some deafness is so profound that an assistive listening device isn't going to do too much. The vast majority of those with impairment, however, can see at least some improvement by using one. Being "too old" in and of itself, of course, is no excuse at all and has nothing to do with anything.

It Will Make Me Seem Old

This is the objection of younger individuals, or at least those that perceive themselves as younger. Is there some validity to it? Perhaps, although the individual wearing the hearing aid often places much more emphasis on how it makes them seem than others will. The good news is that, for those concerned about appearances, today's digital devices are smaller and much less noticeable than those of yesteryear. It's entirely possible to buy one that others won't even notice.