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Helping someone with hearing loss
An individual's hearing loss can affect everyone around them, and their family and friends will likely feel the benefits when they seek treatment. On this page, you can learn how to help your loved one on their journey to healthy hearing.
6 signs your loved one has hearing loss
Do you recognize any of these symptoms in a friend or loved one?
If you become familiar with the signs of hearing loss, you can better help your loved one on their journey to better hearing.
Difficulty following conversations
They have difficulty following group conversations (or when background noise is present)
Phone conversations are unclear
They have trouble following phone conversations in quiet and noisy places
They ask others to repeat themselves
They complain that they cannot hear others clearly or that others seem to be mumbling
Difficulty locating sounds
They have difficulty locating where sounds are coming from
Signs of tinnitus
They experience ringing or buzzing sounds in their ears (called tinnitus)
Turning up the TV too loud
They turn up the TV volume too loud for others
Behavioral changes can be a sign of hearing loss
If someone you know is suffering from untreated hearing loss, you might notice some changes in their behavior. These may include:1
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Feelings of shame, guilt or anger
- Becoming self-critical, frustrated and depressed
How to help someone with hearing loss
Here are 3 ways you can help your loved one take the first step towards better hearing
Study the signs of hearing loss together
Signs of hearing loss
Take our quick and easy online hearing test
Take online hearing test
Book a complimentary hearing assessment with one of our hearing specialists
Book appointment
Consequences of untreated hearing loss
In order to increase your loved one's awareness about their potential hearing loss, tell them about the benefits of seeking hearing care. You may also wish to share some of the short- and long-term consequences of untreated hearing loss1,2,3,4, such as:
- Increased mental load
- Social isolation and depression
- Poor balance and fall-related injuries
- Dementia and Alzheimer's disease
6 benefits of treating hearing loss
1. Hear clearly in most situations and enjoy life more
2. Be able to participate in conversations again
3. Avoid the stress and discomfort caused by impaired hearing
4. Avoid having to ask people to repeat themselves
5. Hear phone conversations effortlessly
6. Listen to the TV at the same volume as other people around you
7 habits for good communication
There are a number of ways to make it easier to communicate with those who have hearing loss. Practice these 7 habits for clearer communication:
- Gain the person’s attention before speaking so that they’re ready to look at you and focus on what you’re saying.
- Speak clearly and at a natural pace; don’t shout.
- Move closer and sit where your face is lit, so that your facial expressions are easy to read.
- Try not to talk while chewing or smoking, and be sure not to hide your mouth or chin while speaking.
- Reduce background noise, turn down the music or TV, or find somewhere quiet to talk.
- If you are in a group, try not to interrupt each other.
- Instead of repeating yourself, try to rephrase the sentence.
Tips for talking to a friend about hearing loss:
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It’s tempting to bring up a loved one’s hearing difficulty in the moment. Maybe you’ve had to repeat yourself several times. Perhaps the loud TV is getting on your nerves. Maybe you’re tired of repeating yourself or acting as a translator at dinner parties.
While it may seem relevant to discuss the problem then and there, you should remember that it may be difficult for your loved one to accept. Bringing up the issue at the wrong time and catching them off guard may cause them to get defensive and, as a result, not be as receptive to your message. Instead, start the conversation in a quiet and private place that your loved one feels comfortable in.
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Just as important as choosing the place for your conversation is preparing to maintain a compassionate state of mind. Telling your loved one that they may have difficulty hearing should not come from a place of frustration. If you’re feeling frustrated, make sure you take the time to collect yourself before you have the talk. That way, you’re coming at the issue from a more objective standpoint, to which your loved one will be better able to relate.
It may be beneficial to keep a log of situations and settings in which you notice your loved one has difficulty hearing. This can also work as a way to process the frustration and turn it into actionable talking points.
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Your loved one is most likely aware that their hearing is not at its best, but they may not be aware that it’s a significant problem. Be prepared for this. Be ready to get concrete about the impact that their hearing is having on their life, from social constraints to mental and physical health challenges. Living with untreated hearing loss affects far more than their ability to hear. Make sure you give them the information they need to take the next step in treating their hearing loss.
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If you find that your loved one is having difficulty accepting that they have symptoms of hearing loss (or is reluctant to do something about it), it’s important to get them on the same page as you. A good way to do this is by having them take a simple online hearing test. While an online hearing screening shouldn’t replace a hearing assessment* with a professional, it can act as a good first step. You can even take it together.
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Even if a loved one wants to seek help for their hearing difficulties, they may not know how. They may feel overwhelmed or insecure. Offer your support and guidance. Gather information for them, help them set up an appointment with a hearing care expert, and join them for the appointment to show your support.
Sources
1. Amieva, H., Ouvrard, C., Meillon, C., Rullier, L., & Dartigues, J. (2018, January 03). Death, Depression, Disability, and Dementia Associated With Self-reported Hearing Problems: A 25-Year Study. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/73/10/1383/4783130
2. Lin, F. R.. (2011, February 1). Hearing Loss and Incident Dementia. Archives of Neurology. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/802291.
3. Lin, F. R., & Ferrucci, L. (2012). Hearing loss and falls among older adults in the United States. Archives of internal medicine, 172(4), 369–371. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.728
4. Rönnberg J;Lunner T;Zekveld A;Sörqvist P;Danielsson H;Lyxell B;Dahlström O;Signoret C;Stenfelt S;Pichora-Fuller MK;Rudner M;. (n.d.). The Ease of Language Understanding (ELU) model: Theoretical, empirical, and clinical advances. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23874273/
