How to talk to someone about their hearing (when they don’t want to hear it)

There are a few tell-tale signs that your loved one may be experiencing hearing loss. 

It might be that they’re constantly turning up the volume on the TV. Perhaps they regularly miss the phone ringing or the doorbell buzzing. Or it may be that you’ll often hear them say things like, “You all mumble these days. No one speaks clearly anymore!”

Karen Hirschausen, principal audiologist at Hearing Australia and hearing expert with nearly 30 years’ experience in the field, says it’s the consistency of these behaviours that should ring alarm bells.

“You’ll see them consistently struggling in those noisy environments,” Hirschausen says. “They’ll be frequently asking you to repeat things, or misunderstanding words.”

They might also be withdrawing socially, “and sometimes that can be a sign of ‘I’m taking myself away because it’s too hard for me to be in that larger group setting and I can’t keep up with the conversation’.”

How to start the conversation about hearing loss

But while hearing loss is very common, particularly as people age, family members can often struggle to talk to their loved ones about it. That means those affected go longer without seeking treatment.

“We know in the industry that people do associate hearing loss with ageing and a loss of independence, so you can sometimes convince yourself that everybody else is just mumbling,” Hirschausen says. 

She recommends coming from a place of concern when approaching the topic with a family member. 

You might try opening the conversation with a line like, “I’ve noticed we’ve both been finding conversations a bit harder lately, and I worry that you’re missing bits. How would you feel about getting your hearing checked?”

Another option is suggesting that you both go together to get their hearing checked.

Or you could emphasise the way hearing allows us to connect with our friends and family, by saying “I miss having those easy conversations with you” or “Can we do something about that to make our communication a little bit easier?”

A new era of hearing technology

It might also be a good idea to point out to your loved one how much hearing technology has changed.

“We often have conceptual pictures of what hearing aids look like based on what our parents or grandparents might have had, and that’s from decades ago,” Hirschausen says.

Today’s hearing aids, she says, can be “very discreet” and some are Bluetooth®-enabled, allowing you to connect them directly to your smartphone or TV.

And getting your hearing checked doesn’t have to be time-consuming, or a source of financial stress. The easiest first step, Hirschausen says, is to book in a free hearing check with Hearing Australia, which can be done through their website. 

“There’s no commitment attached to that,” Hirschausen says. “It’s really just a hearing check appointment…  the same way that you might go for an eye check or a dental checkup. The hearing check only takes 15 minutes and it’s free* for anyone aged 18 and over.”

And if hearing aids are recommended, the Australian Government Hearing Services Program subsidises these for eligible pensioners, so there’s no cost to them.*

Music to their ears

Hirschausen says the sentiment she hears again and again from clients  is “I wish I’d done this sooner”.

Hearing loss is often quite gradual, so your loved one may not realise all the sounds they’re no longer registering.

“A really big one that people come back and say is, ‘I can’t believe I couldn’t hear the birds before, and now I really enjoy hearing their chirping’,” Hirschausen says.

“The most common comment is, ‘I can’t believe all the things I was missing out on’.” 

Concerned about your hearing? Book a free 15-minute adult hearing check with Hearing Australia – Australia’s most trusted hearing services provider since 2021, as voted by Reader’s Digest readers. Call 134 432 or book online at hearing.com.au/bookings

*Only 15-minute hearing checks are free. Other services may attract charges/fees or may be subsidised for those eligible under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program, to which conditions apply. A hearing check is a screening that helps identify people that may have hearing loss.