Want to help a family member who has hearing loss, but don’t know how to approach a touchy subject?

Remember, there are many emotions involved with hearing loss. It doesn’t only affect the person who has experienced the loss, but also people close to that person.  Many people with hearing loss go through a period of denial or confusion about whether the loss actually exists. This period sometimes lasts years and misunderstandings often occur.

Here are some common scenarios:

• when a spouse or family member feels ignored.
• if the affected person begins to isolate or becomes depressed
• when they think other people are laughing or talking about them because they can’t hear the conversation.

What You Should Do

If you suspect that a family member or close friend has hearing loss, please encourage them to start with a hearing screen to determine if hearing loss exists.  Hearing HealthCare Centers is happy to provide a screen and consultation at no charge, and often a no-risk trial of hearing technology gives a new patient a way to experience treatment without any pressure to buy hearing aids.  Show compassion instead of frustration when encouraging your loved one to seek help for their condition.

If you suspect that someone you know has treated or untreated loss of hearing, you can also help them by always getting their attention before speaking to them, facing them during conversation so they have visual cues, and avoiding conversation from another room.