Thanksgiving is a cherished time for family gatherings, filled with laughter, stories, and sentiments of gratitude. It also provides a perfect caring atmosphere to tackle important health concerns, and this includes hearing loss. With loved ones gathered around, this holiday can be a perfect time to start a conversation about hearing troubles and encourage finding solutions.
Planning a discussion to support your loved one
During family gatherings, it can make a big difference for a loved one with hearing loss, if you create a compassionate and welcoming vibe. The following are a few suggestions to help everyone feel comfortable, especially loved ones who are coping with hearing loss:
- Notify Family Members in Advance: Make sure you discuss your plan to talk about hearing loss with your other family members. This way, it won’t feel like an ambush to your loved one, and everybody can be ready to make contributions in a positive way. It will seem more like a family support system and less like criticism, for the person with hearing loss, when the whole family is involved.
- Thoughtful Seating Arrangements: Seat your loved one near the center of the table where they are more likely to be included in conversations. Avoid seating them at the ends where they might struggle to hear conversations occurring further away.
Minimize Background Noise: Try to keep background noise, including music, at a reduced volume. This reduces 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 smart plan to turn them off before the conversation.
Gently broaching the conversation
It’s essential to be thoughtful when beginning a conversation about a sensitive topic like hearing loss. Thanksgiving provides a perfect setting to have this talk because it’s a time when families give thanks and show support for each other. Here’s how to tackle the discussion:
- Address the Issue with Compassion: Inform your loved one that you’ve noticed they might be having difficulty hearing and that you’re mentioning it because you care about their well-being. Instead of concentrating on the problem itself, talk more about how they can improve their quality of life. For instance, you might say, “I’ve noticed it’s been a little more difficult for you to follow with conversations recently, and I want to make sure you can fully enjoy our family gatherings”.
- Offer Immediate Tips for Better Communication: Recommend simple changes that can help in the short term. Urge your loved one to ask others to speak more slowly or clearly if they’re having difficulty understanding. Remind them that when they are in noisy settings, it’s acceptable to ask people to repeat what they said. By utilizing these guidelines, your loved one will feel less frustrated and more included at gatherings.
- Convey Gratitude and Care: The first thing to do is to let your loved one know that they mean a lot to you. Discuss how fortunate you feel to have them in your life. This lets your loved one know that you care about, and are concerned about their well-being, setting a positive tone from the start.
Long-term solution should be discussed
Once your loved one feels supported and knows that the discussion comes from a place of concern, you can delicately present the idea of exploring long-term solutions.
- Introduce the Idea of Hearing Aids: If your loved one seems to be receptive to the conversation, solutions like hearing aids can be mentioned. Share that modern hearing aids are discreet, effective, and can substantially improve their ability to participate in conversations and enjoy social events. Maybe you could say something like “Hearing aids will improve your life and help you get greater joy from social interactions, and there are so many options to choose from, you will easily find a solution that works for you”.
- Propose a Hearing Test: Advocate for your loved one to schedule a hearing exam as the next thing they should do. Inform them that you will help them make the appointment and of course, you will be there with them for support. Help them comprehend that a hearing test is an easy, non-invasive way to get a clearer picture of their .
- Reassure Ongoing Family Support: Make sure they are aware that they won’t have to deal with any of the process by themselves. Let them know that the family is there to comfort them through the entire process, from making appointments to adjusting to new hearing aids if necessary. Reinforce that taking this step is about enhancing their overall quality of life and enjoying more moments together.
The genuine spirit of Thanksgiving: supporting each other
Coming together with loved ones and showing support is the real meaning of Thanksgiving. Approaching a loved one’s hearing loss during this time can be a meaningful way to offer support and help them reconnect with the happiness of family get-togethers. Don’t miss the opportunity to have this sincere conversation 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 memorable and enjoyable for everybody involved. Help them feel more included and less isolated with your encouraging care and empathy.
This Thanksgiving, take a minute to have this significant conversation. It’s an act of love that could improve their experience not just during the holiday season, but throughout the whole year.