What are the reasons that an elderly person wouldn’t get a hearing aid?

homer742 asked:

My 92-year-old G’pa can’t hear anyone that doesn’t yell at him, yet he hasn’t gotten a hearing aid. It causes my visits to him to be shorter and less enjoyable (for both he and I), because I get tired of yelling and I have to use simple words that lend themselves to yelling. Can I essentially demand that he get a hearing aid?

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hear on March 31, 2009 | Filed Under hearing aid

11 Comments

sissy on April 2nd, 2009

cuz they want to hear

Southern Ontario Fella on April 5th, 2009

maybe because they hear fine already

dolphinchick1021 on April 9th, 2009

Consider this – if you haven’t been able to hear for awhile and then suddenly you can, there is a TON of background noise. People who haven’t heard that background noise have a hard time adjusting to it. At 92 years old – he may not want to deal with that.

Boffo on April 11th, 2009

EH? WHAT’S THAT…? I CAN’T HEAR YOU!

bludaisy33 on April 12th, 2009

92…I wouldn’t waste your money.

sunnydaze311 on April 12th, 2009

Your best bet is to let that person know it bothers you. But some elder people have so much pride they won’t make the change.

balmoralbalmoral on April 12th, 2009

No, you can’t “demand” anything!!

Hearing Aids are very expensive, so if your granpa doesn’t have insurance, that’s probably the reason he doesn’t have one.

Why don’t you be a good grandson, and take him to a hearing aid place, have him fitted for one, and pay for it as a gift to him!!

BonesofaTeacher on April 13th, 2009

There is the cost, they are very expensive and not everyone can afford them or get them paid for by insurance.
Some older folks are embarrassed to have them, like wearing braces or something, it’s not cool.
The hearing aids are uncomfortable and even if people have them they don’t always wear them. Like uncomfortable shoes. You wouldn’t want to put them on.
Also, the hearing aid magnifies what you don’t want to hear, too, like background noises or gives you painful feedback in your ear sometimes. They are not a perfect solution, like any prosthesis (a fake leg or hand) doesn’t work like the real thing.
Try activities that don’t require talking as much…take a walk or look at art or something that isn’t as verbally intensive. Something you both enjoy that isn’t a conversation. You can still spend time together.

newlove212002 on April 13th, 2009

the older generation does not like the new technology of today…they are old fashioned and feel if they use it they are surrendereing to old age and it is hard for some peoiple to accept…if he does not want any device to help, try to face him when you talk so he can see your mouth and talk a little slower then you do not have to “YELL”!take your time, old people do not like to be rushed or told what to do! they are people that have been doing their own thing for…him it would be 92 years and he wants to continue to do his own thing!

dottie on April 14th, 2009

He doesn’t like change. Encourage him to get a hearing aid. Maybe take him to shop for it(doctor appt) and can he afford one? Cost$$$$$$

ZCT on April 16th, 2009

At the age of 92 your grandfather is probably slightly set in his ways. He can remember the days when a hearing aid was a giant box you needed to wear around your neck. The problem is at his age and loss severity it may be a long and difficult road to rehabilitate him back to ‘normal’ hearing again. He may just feel like he doesn’t want the hassle or expense, which is too bad because it really could increase the quality of his life. Maybe convince him to get a free hearing aid consultation. A good hearing center will test his hearing and let him listen to some real hearing aids to see how effective they are. This consultation should be free and without obligation.

I just wanted to address some weird misnomers and disinformation that I’ve seen posted on this question:

“The hearing aids are uncomfortable and even if people have them they don’t always wear them.”

- Hearing aids that are properly fitted are never uncomfortable. If a hearing aid is uncomfortable, you need to go back to the hearing center and have the problem corrected. A correctly fitted hearing aid should be no less comfortable than spectacles.

“Also, the hearing aid magnifies what you don’t want to hear, too, like background noises or gives you painful feedback in your ear sometimes.”

- This is only true of poor quality or old fashioned hearing aids. The very latest digital technology has incredible sound quality, does not make feedback sounds or over amplify background noise.

Hearing Aids