The Road to Change

I’ve lived in the same house since 1978, and I’ve had the same job since 1985, so you can see that I don’t make changes lightly! Making decisions and implementing change can be tough. I have surely found myself thinking: “On one hand….but on the other hand…” I get it!!!

Yet, changing habits is fundamental in hearing health care. When we recommend something to you, we are asking you to change some habits. Implementing change is often a journey. When people change habits psychologists have found they follow a well-recognized pattern. Let’s look at this pattern and see how we can use these stages to describe the journey to better hearing health:

Pre-contemplation: At this stage the person does not realize or believe that there is need for change. Someone else may have initiated the appointment such as a physician or family member. The person may be surprised by the perceptions of others, and may make excuses for missing conversation, such as “other people mumble” or “I wasn’t paying attention.” The audiologist listens and offers information, but he or she may not be ready for intervention.

Contemplation: There may be ambivalence at this stage. The person may still be comfortable with the status quo, but may be beginning to explore the consequences of doing nothing. At this point, we acknowledge ambivalence, and start to explore the person’s experiences with communication and hearing. We begin to offer advice about options for improving the situation.

Preparation: As the person moves on to the preparation stage, they reach a tipping point and decide to act on the hearing loss. Now the person is motivated, and is looking for information on the best path forward. We are here to offer advice about what it takes to facilitate communication. There are always a variety of options and so it’s important that both the person, the family, and the professional are open to listening and exchanging ideas that make the most sense for this particular situation.

Action: A person in the action phase is moving ahead. Having resolved the initial ambivalence, the person feels positive. This is the point where the decision that had seemed daunting now feels less difficult than anticipated. This is the time to focus on the anticipated benefits of improved hearing and communication. As in any decision we make, it’s so much easier once we are on the path to action.

Maintenance: This is the stage that moves from a place of stress to a place of contentment. The person is now taking advantage of amplification and better communication strategies. The goal of this stage is to feel successful and comfortable with the new behavior (amplification and communication strategies). These new habits are fully integrated into his or her lifestyle. The person is now using amplification confidently…and we continue to be there for support and assistance as needed.

Of course, not every decision is a step-be-step process for every person. Sometimes it’s a journey, and sometimes it’s a slam dunk. Either way, change involves a little adjustment. But before you know it, you’ll have a “new normal” - you’ll be in a better place, wondering why you didn’t get there sooner.