Healthy communication is a requisite for every healthy relationship. We share ourselves and learn about our loved ones through stories, jokes, and heated discussions. With hearing loss, communication becomes a major challenge. Speech recognition is difficult for people with hearing loss, and over time, if it is left untreated, hearing loss will cause social withdrawal and isolation. This breakdown in communication can harm even the strongest relationships. If you have a family member with hearing loss, or if you experience hearing loss and are concerned about how it is affecting your relationships, read on to learn more about improving family communication with hearing loss.
Getting Attention
Sometimes you really just don’t feel like going down the stairs, so it may become common practice to call out to a loved one from another part of the house. If your family member experiences a hearing loss, this method of communication may not work anymore. In order to get your loved one’s attention, give them a gentle tap on the shoulder or arm, or say their name and make eye contact before you start speaking. When speaking to your loved one, position yourself face to face so that they can read your facial expression and lips, if necessary.
It’s Not You…
If your family member doesn’t get a joke, or if they misunderstand something you’ve said and become upset, take a minute before responding. It may initially hurt your feelings, but keep in mind that hearing loss drastically affects speech recognition. Depending on the configuration of hearing loss, they may mix up similar speech sounds or mishear words completely. Try not to take it personally if they misunderstand you, stay calm, and repeat yourself.
Speaking of Repeats
When repeating yourself, keep in mind that louder is not necessarily better for someone with hearing loss. Many people with hearing loss complain that while they can hear, they often times have difficulty understanding. Try rephrasing something you’ve said. Enunciate and speak clearly. There’s no need to dramatically slow down your speech, but add a few pauses for your family member to catch up.
State Your Needs and Ask for Help
If you experience hearing loss, or if you have hearing loss and were just fitted for hearing aids, you are going through many transitions in your life. Adjusting to life with hearing loss and hearing aids may be daunting. Many people wait about seven years between the time they first notice changes in their hearing and getting hearing aids. During this time, our brains could get used to muffled sounds and unclear speech.
With hearing aids, access to rich, amplified speech and sounds might be overwhelming at first. Keep in mind that your loved ones are there to support you. You may want to practice using your hearing aids; ask a loved one to have a quiet chat with you for an hour or so. If you are going out and about, let your family members know what you need to feel confident and safe. Asking for help and accepting help is an integral part of being close to your loved ones.
Teamwork
We attend parties, weddings, barbecues, and reunions with our partners and family members. Your loved one may feel overwhelmed at larger gatherings. Set up a game plan beforehand to assist your loved one at these social events. Perhaps you’ll want to step to the side from time to time for a quiet conversation, or perhaps your loved one will require assistance at the dinner table.
Treat Hearing Loss ASAP!
If you or your loved one is exhibiting signs of hearing loss, the single most important thing you can do is to seek treatment. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to a number of consequences, from increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, to social isolation and withdrawal. People with untreated hearing loss are also at a higher risk for developing dementia, due to a heavier cognitive load placed on the brain as it struggles to make sense of sound.
At Desert Valley Audiology, we provide comprehensive hearing services, from testing to hearing aid fittings. Our team will work with you and your family to find the best solutions to meet your specific hearing needs. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.