Seeking medical care can often be a private and personal experience. You may not be used to bringing a loved one to the doctor’s office, but audiologists recommend bringing a partner or relative when seeking hearing treatment.
Bringing a partner or relative to your audiology appointment can help your audiologist gain insight, increase the effectiveness of their care and form a stronger bond between you and your loved one. Benefits of bringing a loved one to your audiology appointment may include:
- Emotional support
- A second set of ears
- Well-rounded information
- Greater communication and emotional bonding
- Increased likelihood of successful treatment
Let’s examine each of these a little more closely.
Emotional Support
Starting your hearing loss treatment journey can be a powerful but emotional experience. A partner or relative can provide a comforting presence at your appointments and help bolster you to continue treatment with a sense of confidence.
A Second Set of Ears
You will receive a lot of new information at your first couple of audiology appointments. You may discuss treatment options, hearing aid choices and test results. Bringing a companion to take notes will allow you to listen and process without worrying about missing information.
Well-Rounded Information
A partner or loved one is often the first to identify signs of hearing loss. They may be more able to notice when you turn the TV volume up to an uncomfortable level or when you misunderstand words and phrases over a latte at Harmony Coffee Bar. They can relay this information to your audiologist, ensuring you receive the best and most accurate medical care possible.
Greater Communication and Emotional Bonding
Hearing loss can feel alienating not just for the one experiencing it but also for their loved ones. When your loved one feels they aren’t being heard or understood, even if they know the reason, they may experience negative emotions as a result. Bringing them to your appointment tells them that you care what they say and think and are taking active steps to understand them better.
Increased Likelihood of Successful Treatment
A study on the effects of bringing a significant other to audiology appointments found that it greatly increased the likelihood of hearing aid adoption and satisfaction with treatment, with satisfaction increasing in correlation to the strength of the relationship between patient and partner.
Hearing aids can take some time to get used to. Bringing a loved one to your appointments and allowing them to be part of your hearing treatment will give them the information they need to bolster your confidence and encourage you to stick with your treatment.
Call North Shore Audio-Vestibular Lab today to begin your hearing loss treatment with one of our trusted audiologists.