Thanksgiving is a treasured time for family gatherings, filled with merriment, stories, and sentiments of gratitude. It also provides a perfect caring environment to address important health concerns, including hearing loss. With loved ones gathered around, this holiday can serve as a perfect moment to start a conversation about hearing difficulties and encourage finding solutions.
Organizing a conversation to support your loved one
Creating a welcoming setting for someone with hearing loss can make a big difference during a family get-together. The following are a few guidelines to help everyone feel comfortable, particularly loved ones who are dealing with hearing loss:
- Thoughtful Seating Arrangements: Position your loved one near the middle of the table where they are more likely to be involved in conversations. Steer clear of seating them at the ends where they might struggle to hear conversations taking place further away.
- Notify Family Members in Advance: Let other family members know that you plan to talk about the subject of hearing loss. This will allow everybody to be ready for the conversation and your loved one with hearing loss won’t feel like they are being ambushed. It will feel more like a family support system and less like criticism, for the individual with hearing loss, when the whole family is involved.
Minimize Background Noise: Keep music and other ambient noises at a lower volume. This decreases distractions and makes it easier for your loved one to focus on the conversation. Electronic devices, such as the TV, can present significant distractions and it’s a good idea to turn them off before the discussion.
Gently broaching the conversation
Mentioning hearing loss can be delicate, and it’s essential to approach it with empathy. Thanksgiving offers a perfect setting to have this conversation because it’s a time when families express gratitude and show support for one another. The following are some guidelines about how to approach this conversation:
- Express Gratitude and Care: Begin by articulating how much your loved one means to you. Describe how thankful you are that they are part of your life. This lets your loved one know that you care about, and are worried about their well-being, creating a positive tone from the start.
- Offer Immediate Tips for Better Communication: Suggest small, helpful short-term changes. Encourage your loved one to ask others to speak more slowly or clearly if they’re having difficulty understanding. Remind them that it’s okay to ask people to repeat what they said in loud settings. These approaches can help them feel more included and less frustrated during gatherings.
- Address the Issue with Empathy: Inform your loved one that it seems as if they might be having a hard time hearing and that you’re concerned for their well-being. Instead of concentrating on the issue itself, talk more about how they can enhance their quality of life. You may say something like “I want to help you get the most out of these family gatherings, and it seems like you might be having a hard time following conversations”.
Discussing long-term solutions
After you put your loved one at ease by letting them know how much you care about them, it’s time to delicately initiate the idea of long-term solutions.
- Propose a Hearing Test: Advocate for your loved one to schedule a hearing test as the next thing they should do. Offer to help set up the appointment or go with them for support. Talk about the importance of having their hearing evaluated in order to determine the state of their hearing health.
- Reassure Ongoing Family Support: Point out that seeking treatment for hearing loss isn’t something they will have to confront alone. From the process of scheduling and going to the appointments to adapting to new hearing aids, assure them that their family is there to help. Reinforce that taking this step is about enhancing their overall quality of life and enjoying more experiences together.
- Introduce the Idea of Hearing Aids: If the conversation is going well, you could talk about potential solutions like hearing aids. Help them understand that hearing aids are discreet and will better their quality of life by improving their ability to participate in conversations and engage in social connections. Maybe you could say something like “Hearing aids will improve your life and help you get greater joy from social connections, and there are so many options to select from, you will easily find a solution that works for you”.
The genuine spirit of Thanksgiving: showing support for one another
Coming together with loved ones and offering support is the real meaning of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the ideal time to address a loved one’s hearing loss as a thoughtful show of support that will help them find the happiness of family get-togethers once more. Don’t miss the opportunity to have this sincere discussion in a setting where they can feel the full support of their family.
Inspiring your loved one to take the first step towards better hearing can make future holidays even more unforgettable and enjoyable for everybody involved. Help them feel more included and less isolated with your encouraging care and compassion.
Take a little time to begin this important discussion this Thanksgiving. It’s an act of love that could improve their experience not only during the holiday season, but throughout the entire year.
