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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.

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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.

Two people are seated at a wooden table outdoors, sharing a laugh and enjoying a lively conversation in a lush, green setting.
Difficulty following conversations
They have difficulty following group conversations (or when background noise is present)
A man in a green shirt uses a smartphone outdoors, surrounded by trees and sunlight.
Phone conversations are unclear
They have trouble following phone conversations in quiet and noisy places
Elderly man gesturing during a thoughtful conversation
They ask others to repeat themselves
They complain that they cannot hear others clearly or that others seem to be mumbling
Hand held behind an ear, representing hearing loss or the act of trying to listen.
Difficulty locating sounds
They have difficulty locating where sounds are coming from
Side profile of a woman’s ear with zigzag lines denoting pain or ringing, wearing a floral earring, with hair partially covering the ear.
Signs of tinnitus
They experience ringing or buzzing sounds in their ears (called tinnitus)
A hand pressing buttons on a TV remote against a blurred television background, suggesting home entertainment and ease of use.
Turning up the TV too loud
They turn up the TV volume too loud for others
Older man holding his head with one hand while speaking on a phone, showing signs of distress or discomfort.

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
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Study the signs of hearing loss together
Signs of hearing loss
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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.

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Consequences of 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:

6 benefits of treating hearing loss

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1. Hear clearly in most situations and enjoy life more
People engaging in conversation and sharing wine at an outdoor dinner gathering.
2. Be able to participate in conversations again
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3. Avoid the stress and discomfort caused by impaired hearing
Happy senior couple smiling and sitting outdoors, engaging in conversation and enjoying their time together.
4. Avoid having to ask people to repeat themselves
Elderly man wearing a hearing aid, smiling while talking on the phone in a bright living room.
5. Hear phone conversations effortlessly
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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/

 

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