It is not a new thing that people choose to put their hearing on the back burner.

According to NIH, about 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids. However, among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30 percent) have ever used them. Even fewer adults aged 20 to 69 (approximately 16 percent) who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them.

While many people are aware of their declining hearing health, others are simply not aware. Here are some reasons why people choose NOT to use hearing aids.

  • Hearing aids are expensive
  • Don’t like the look of hearing aids
  • Too hard to use
  • Uncomfortable for all-day wear
  • My hearing is not that bad

Rather than telling someone that they are wrong, it is important to support your loved one. Looking for a solution together will make it easy to convince them.

How Can You Help?

Instead of yelling and asking them to get help, you can impress them by defining some facts and benefits of using hearing aids.

  • Take out some time

It is important to have a real conversation surrounding the topic. Talk to them and get to the bottom of why they choose not to wear hearing aids. Is it because of the cost? Are they worried about their appearance? It can help to reach out to a professional who can talk to them about the benefits of using hearing aids.

  • Play a supporting role

It is important to let the person suffering from hearing loss know that you are there for them. You need to play a supportive role while helping them understand that hearing loss does not affect them alone. When a person is living with hearing loss, they often forget how it can impact their loved ones.

Everyone around the person needs to make compromises, however, this may lead to the person not realizing how their hearing loss is affecting those around them.

  • Offer Support

It is vital to offer in-person support. While your loved one may be comfortable in one language, the doctor may talk in another. This is when you can offer to go to their next appointment with them.

You can write down their questions so that you do not forget anything. It is also a good idea to take notes when you are in the doctor’s office so that you can go over what was said, and how you can make things easier for your loved one.

Benefits of Using Hearing Aids

One of the biggest benefits of using hearing aids is to have better hearing. However, hearing aids nowadays have more utility than ever.

  • Hearing aids now come with fall alerts. They send out a notification when the wearer has an accident.
  • Bluetooth hearing aids connect with your phone or tablet so that you get access to the highest quality audio.
  • Some hearing aids can also track your daily activities.

Nowadays, people have several hearing aids to choose from, ranging from in the ear to completely in the canal and behind the ear. You can easily choose something depending on your style and budget.