HearingLife logo
Book
Image show couple talking with a clinician

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.

Book appointment Hearing loss treatment
icon of map with pin
600+
locations nationwide
icon of group of people
500,000+
satisfied customers
icon of hearing aid
30-day risk-free
hearing aid trial**
icon of person wearing headphones
Complimentary
hearing assessment*

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.

Image shows people on an outdoor dinner party
Difficulty following conversations
They have difficulty following group conversations (or when background noise is present)
Image shows man talking on the phone
Phone conversations are unclear
They have trouble following phone conversations in quiet and noisy places
Image shows elderly man talking
They ask others to repeat themselves
They complain that they cannot hear others clearly or that others seem to be mumbling
Image shows hand being held close to an ear
Difficulty locating sounds
They have difficulty locating where sounds are coming from
Image shows woman holding hands by forehead due to pain
Signs of tinnitus
They experience ringing or buzzing sounds in their ears (called tinnitus)
Image shows hand holding remote control
Turning up the TV too loud
They turn up the TV volume too loud for others
Image shows man talking on the phone while holding his head

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

When to seek help for hearing loss

How to help someone with hearing loss

Here are 3 ways you can help your loved one take the first step towards better hearing
icon of man with headphones
Study the signs of hearing loss together
Signs of hearing loss
icon of calendar
Take our quick and easy online hearing test
Take online hearing test
icon of hearing aid
Book a complimentary hearing assessment with one of our hearing specialists
Book appointment
Image shows couple sitting on the sofa looking at a tablet

Request a consultation for someone you love

Help your loved one take the first step to better hearing by scheduling an appointment. The booking is complimentary, and there is no obligation to purchase.

Step 1 of 2

Image shows hand placing hearing aids into woman's ear

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:

Consequences of untreated hearing loss

6 benefits of treating hearing loss

Image shows couple cycling
1. Hear clearly in most situations and enjoy life more
Image shows people at outdoor dinner party
2. Be able to participate in conversations again
Image shows woman feeling happy
3. Avoid the stress and discomfort caused by impaired hearing
Image show happy couple together
4. Avoid having to ask people to repeat themselves
Image shows elderly man talking on the phone
5. Hear phone conversations effortlessly
Image shows couple on sofa with popcorn and remote control in their hands
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:

  1. Gain the person’s attention before speaking so that they’re ready to look at you and focus on what you’re saying.
  2. Speak clearly and at a natural pace; don’t shout.
  3. Move closer and sit where your face is lit, so that your facial expressions are easy to read.
  4. Try not to talk while chewing or smoking, and be sure not to hide your mouth or chin while speaking.
  5. Reduce background noise, turn down the music or TV, or find somewhere quiet to talk.
  6. If you are in a group, try not to interrupt each other.
  7. Instead of repeating yourself, try to rephrase the sentence.

Tips for talking to a friend about hearing loss:

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/

 

  1. Home
  2. Hearing loss
  3. Living with hearing loss
  4. Help someone with hearing loss