Details Individuals with Hearing Failure Wish You Knew

Do you have a loved one or co-worker with hearing loss? Nearly 1 in 5 people have some degree of hearing loss so you may know someone who experiences hearing challenges. Hearing loss can be stressful and overwhelming to deal with on a daily basis. Though it is incredibly common (impacting over 48 million people), people still do not know too much about hearing loss. This includes ways they can better support their loved one and their hearing needs which can strengthen relationships. Here is a list of things people with hearing loss wish you knew:

Hearing loss can be exhausting. Hearing loss is a medical condition that reduces capacity to hear and process speech as well as sound. This produces a range of symptoms that can be challenging to deal with. This includes tinnitus (a buzzing or ringing noise in the ears), sounds are slurred or distorted, and struggling to hear in places with background noise. These symptoms can range from mild to more profound, depending on the degree of hearing loss present. Hearing loss symptoms make it difficult to engage in conversations and navigate social settings. The brain has to work harder in trying to hear, understand, and participate in communication. This can be a tiring experience that leads to fatigue often.

Hearing aids do not work like glasses. Hearing aids are an essential and crucial device that provides ample support for people with hearing loss. Similar to most electronic devices today, hearing aids have experienced so much innovation. Today’s devices are savvier and more advanced than ever before. They feature a range of features and technologies that deliver enhanced sound quality, increased connectivity, adn optimal hearing experiences. While these innovations are great and profoundly support hearing health, hearing aids still take time to get used to. Unlike glasses, which you put on and vision is instantly enhanced, hearing aids require a process of acclimating. People are hearing in a new way and this will include hearing sounds they haven’t heard in quite some time. The brain has to get familiar with these sounds and this new way of hearing. This involves practicing, talking to loved ones, and extra patience.

I am not ignoring you. A common misunderstanding that people experience is that they feel they are being ignored by their loved one with hearing loss. People often report feeling unheard or dismissed when communicating with their loved one who has impaired hearing. But it is important to know that it takes extra time and effort to participate in conversations. So while you may think that your loved one is not listening, they are likely trying their best to follow nonverbal cues, lip read, and understand what you are saying. If you feel like they are confused or not present, ask if you can clarify anything or rephrase something you’ve said. It is important to keep an open line of communication which can strengthen your relationship rather than causing distance and strain.

There are ways you can help. There are several communication strategies you can practice to help make conversations more useful. This includes:

Grabbing your loved ones attention by calling their name or tapping them on the shoulder. This allows them to be ready to engage in conversation.
Face them while speaking and always maintain visibility which provides access to nonverbal cues like body language and facial expressions.
Rephrase rather than repeat if they haven’t heard something or are struggling to process what you’ve said.
Avoid multitasking during conversations so that you are fully present and available.
Reduce background noise as much as possible.
Opt for quieter settings rather than noisy places like restaurants during peak hours.
Check-in and ask if there are other adjustments or changes you can make to better support hearing needs.

Your support is important. It is important to remember that your support is invaluable. Practicing communication strategies, checking-in, being patient, and helping your loved one acclimate to new hearing aids tremendously supports their hearing needs and transition to better hearing health. Hearing loss can be tough to navigate but your support can provide the ease and comfort needed to become confident.