The support of a loved one is invaluable when you’re charting unknown terrain—whether that’s starting a new job, dying your hair platinum blonde or getting your first pair of hearing aids.
If your partner has recently been diagnosed with hearing loss, they might be feeling nervous about the path ahead. Attending their hearing aid appointment with them is one way you can support them on their journey.
Why Is It Helpful To Attend Your Partner’s Hearing Aid Appointment?
Accepting the fact that you need hearing aids and going through the process of getting them is a lot for one person to handle alone. Even though we make the process easy and comfortable, you can’t discount the importance of a partner’s support. A 2022 study found that attending your audiology appointment with your significant other increased the likelihood of successful hearing aid adoption. Let’s look at a few ways you can help your significant other during their journey.
Tips To Offer Your Support
A few ways you can offer your support during your partner’s hearing aid journey include:
- Listen. Your partner may have feelings about their hearing loss or the need to wear hearing aids. It’s normal for them to feel angry, sad, nervous or even excited. Give them space to express their feelings, whatever they are.
- Take notes. Hearing aid appointments are full of information, and it can be hard to pay attention and take notes. When you’re at the appointment, take notes for your partner. These could include information on how to care for their devices, what they can expect in the coming weeks and any other important details their specialist offers.
- Help establish a routine. Your partner will need to clean their hearing aids nightly and either charge them each night or replace their batteries regularly if they’re not rechargeable. Help your partner keep up with this routine by reminding them each night if they forget.
- Easing the acclimation period. Your partner will go through an acclimation period during which they’ll get used to the new sounds their hearing aids produce. During this time, they may find voices or house sounds distracting or intrusive. Changing the environment in your home or lending an ear if they need to vent will help ease this period. Their hearing aids will feel comfortable and natural in no time.
- Help them during outings. Busy environments, like date nights at Torme, will be easier to navigate with hearing aids, but they might feel funny the first few times. Help them by clarifying missed points whenever they need.
With your help, your partner can enjoy a smoother hearing aid journey. For more information on how to offer your support, contact Prescott Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy today.