Hearing Your Family and Friends Around the Holidays
From our hearing health partner and sponsor, ReSound
The holiday season is a special time to gather and celebrate with family and friends. During this time, you may notice that a loved one is showing signs of potential hearing loss. We recommend familiarizing yourself with the common signs of hearing loss so you can help a loved one get access to the hearing treatment they may need.
Having hearing loss and accepting it may be difficult for some. Because of that, it may be ignored for a long time. It’s not always easy to ask for help or know how to get help. Hearing loss can have a huge impact on the quality of life, not only for the person with a hearing loss, but also for those around them. This is because it can affect their relationships with others.
Experts from our hearing partner and sponsor ReSound share how hearing loss can affect relationships, what signs of hearing loss you should look for, and how to help convince them to get their hearing loss treated.
Take ReSound’s online hearing test together so they don’t have to do it alone. It’s quick, easy and free.
How hearing loss can affect relationships:
- The symptoms of hearing loss can be misunderstood by loved ones
- When someone with a hearing loss doesn’t immediately respond, loved ones may think they are not paying attention, or they’re just not interested in their point of view
- Social events are less enjoyable when you’re living with hearing loss
- It can be hard to understand what’s being said when there’s a lot of background noise
- Watching everyone else experience a joyous round of laughter and not being able to keep up with what was so funny can feel demoralizing
These are just some of the many reasons why it’s important for family members and friends to step in and help out. The sooner those with hearing loss take action, the better it will be. It can also be easier to take action with a little bit of help.
Do you suspect that someone you love may have a hearing loss and may not be able to hear the sounds of the holidays? There are many early signs of hearing loss that you should look out for and take note of.
Some of the signs to look for include:
- You and others continually speak louder for them to hear
- You get the sense your loved one is missing out on parts of the conversation
- You ask them to turn down the volume of the TV
- You see loved ones struggling to be engaged in conversation when background noise is present
- They seem to lack contribution to social settings
- They are unable to hear when spoken to from another room or behind their back
- They complain that others are mumbling
If you suspect that your relative or friend may have hearing loss, encourage them to take action as soon as possible. With proper hearing care and technology, they will be able to better hear the conversations around them and feel more comfortable in social situations.
Remind yourself that helping them accept their hearing loss and getting them to take action will set them on the path to better hearing and a more enjoyable social life.
If you’re concerned about a loved one’s hearing health, you can suggest the following to them:
- Let the person know you care about them and that you want them to be more involved with the world around them
- Help them search online for some of the latest small and powerful hearing technology that will fit their hearing health needs
- Remind them that the success rate of hearing loss treatment is high, so they have nothing to lose and everything to gain
- Give them time. It can be difficult for people to accept they have hearing loss
- Be supportive and quietly persistent
- Suggest they have their hearing checked by a hearing care professional. Find a hearing care professional that works well for them and is close by where they live.
- Take ReSound’s online hearing test together so they don’t have to do it alone.
The advancements in hearing technology and care available today make it easier than ever to find the right fit and help you or your loved one enjoy the exciting sounds of the holidays.