Living with hearing loss can be a frustrating experience. When you’re going through the diagnosis and treatment process, it helps to have someone to help. Let’s look at a few ways you can support your loved one on their hearing loss journey.
Listen
Everybody needs to vent from time to time. Your loved one may want to tell you about a time they had trouble ordering coffee at their favorite Sioux City café, or express worries about wearing hearing aids for the first time. Listen attentively and don’t try to solve their problems unless they ask for help.
Attend Your Loved One’s Hearing Aid Appointment
A 2022 study found that hearing aid adoption was more likely when patients attended their appointment with a friend or partner.[1] The closer the relationship, the greater the chance of adoption.
Attending your loved one’s hearing aid appointment is a gentle reminder that they’re not going through this process alone. You can help them pick the best color for their device, take notes or just hold their hand.
Use Effective Communication
Communicating with someone who has hearing loss may take a little more effort, but using a few of the following strategies can make it easier:
- Face each other while talking
- Don’t talk with food in your mouth
- Don’t cover your mouth while talking
- Talk in a quiet location when possible
- Use body language to add context
- Rephrase yourself rather than repeating
- Don’t raise your voice or over-enunciate
The above tips are general ways to help, but your loved one may also have specific needs. Feel free to ask them how you can make communication easier.
Educate Yourself
There’s a lot to learn about living with and managing hearing loss. Spending a little time educating yourself on the causes, side effects and management of hearing loss will give you a better foundation with which to support your loved one. If you’re unsure where to start, check out more of our blogs or call our experts at Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants.
[1] Ellis, B. K., Singh, G., & Launer, S. (2022). Hearing Aid Adoption is Associated with the Type of Significant Other in Attendance at Hearing Care Appointments. Trends in hearing, 26, 23312165221131703. https://doi.org/10.1177/23312165221131703