As our parents age, we wonder if it is time for them to get hearing aids. This can be a hard decision, as our parents are independent people and may resent our interfering in their lives. Even if we mean to be helpful, they can take our usefulness as busybodiness. But if we put ourselves in their shoes for a moment, we might realize that they could be a little scared to get old: that this change in their lives is scary and that they don’t like the idea of someone else making decisions for them.
The best way to handle Mom considering getting a hearing aid is to give her examples of how she has had trouble hearing, and wouldn’t she like to hear things better? Focus on how a hearing aid is part of the solution – and not the problem at hand. Giving Mom examples of how her hearing has been challenging may make her realize that she has had a tough time hearing and that hearing aids could be quite useful things for her to think of. She may have a negative attitude about them and need some time to adjust.