How do you address hearing loss in seniors? It’s not always easy to know the right way to do it, but by staying informed about the many different ways you can deal with hearing loss, you can figure out what’s best for your specific situation. Learn about treatment options, types of hearing loss, and get tips on talking to your loved one about their problem. Doing this will help your loved one feel supported while also giving you the ability to learn how to deal with it effectively so that both of you can remain happy and healthy together.
Speak Clearly
If you want to make sure your loved one understands what you’re saying, make sure you speak clearly and with good diction. Pay attention to volume, too—if they’re straining to hear or struggling to understand what you’re saying, they may be doing more damage than helping. Additionally, don’t shout. Raising your voice can worsen seniors’ hearing loss by causing vibrations in their ears that only serve to muffle sound further.
Make Sure You Have Their Attention Before Talking
One of the biggest challenges loved ones with hearing loss face is getting people to realize they have a problem and get them to address it. A loud television, for example, could cause severe damage to their hearing even though it wouldn’t seem like anything to someone who can hear properly. If you notice your loved one keeps turning up their volume on their TV or another device significantly, pay attention; you might want to get them tested for hearing loss before it becomes too severe. Also, take note if they start turning down other sounds, like music and voices—this could be a sign that they’re having trouble making out words and maybe trying to focus on what they think they should hear instead of what comes through their ears.
Face The Person You Are Talking To
The easiest way to show your interest in a person is by facing them when you talk. It makes them feel special and not like they are being handed off from one person to another or a side topic. When face-to-face interaction is really important, make eye contact with them often. Make sure to give each person your full attention for at least 15 seconds before looking at someone else. This shows that you value their opinion and want to learn more about what they have to say, too.
Rephrase, Don’t Repeat
One of the biggest mistakes people make when addressing hearing loss in their loved ones is repeating themselves loudly. It might seem helpful to raise your voice, but it often hurts more than it helps. Rephrase what you’re saying so that it can be heard at an average volume level. If your loved one is still hard of hearing, look for visual cues to help you understand what they’re trying to say. Sometimes just knowing that you’ve been heard is enough—don’t force an issue if they don’t want to discuss things further. Wait until another time, and don’t hold it against them! Your patience will pay off soon enough!
Brighten Up The Room
One of the most common causes of hearing loss is damage to hair cells in our ears, usually by loud noise. These little guys are responsible for converting sound waves into electrochemical signals that make it to our brains; louder noise translates to more vibrations, translating to more damage. One way to protect our hair cells is by keeping room lights brighter than usual when talking on speakerphones or watching television. It might not seem like much, but ensuring that extra lighting is constantly shining in their eyes will help keep our ears safe.
