How to Support Loved Ones with Hearing Loss

When your close loved one has hearing loss, it’s important to be mindful of how to support them in their day-to-day life. Forming a close, supportive and attentive partnership will not only help them to feel more confident in their everyday life, but it can also allow them to thrive in everything they do. Having an awareness of hearing loss and what it’s like to experience it will help you to create an environment which encourages your loved ones to feel comfortable. With this in mind, here are a handful of ways in which you can support your friends, family and colleagues with hearing loss.

Find Out Their Expectations

Having a clear conversation with your loved one will help you to understand their expectations so you can help them with anything they need. They may want you to speak up for them and be an advocate for them during certain social situations. Having you as an ally will help them to navigate tricky scenarios where they may not feel comfortable, so always ask what you can do for them. Some individuals may not want to ask for help. This is why it’s important to have an open line of communication so you can do what is right for the individual.

Talk Effectively with Your Loved Ones with Hearing Loss

Talking to your loved one who has hearing loss may need to be more carefully considered, so it’s important to be mindful and flexible when having conversations with them. Effective communication isn’t just about the words you use, but it’s also about the way you speak, how you use gestures and incorporate facial expressions. Whenever you can, try to face the person while you’re talking and don’t put your hands or any other obstacles in the way of your mouth. Your loved one may rely on lipreading to understand certain words so try to move your mouth clearly as you talk to them. If your loved one doesn’t understand what you said, try rephrasing your sentence and using shorter structures to make it easier to comprehend.

Choose Your Meeting Places Wisely

If you’re catching up with a friend or loved one who has hearing loss, you may need to think about where and when you meet them. Choosing a meeting place with good lighting and little background noise is the ideal option, as it will help to enhance the conversation and help them to feel more confident and comfortable in the environment. Most importantly, be patient and kind with your loved one while they navigate life with hearing loss. Being open minded and adaptable to their needs will help them feel more at ease when they’re spending time with you.

Suggest an Appointment with a Hearing Health Professional

One of the best ways to show your support for your loved one with hearing loss, is to direct them to a reputable hearing health professional in their local area. Offer to go with them to their appointments and lend your support by being as involved as they would like you to be. Once they have built up a relationship with their hearing health professional, they will be on the right path towards getting hearing aids.