Discussing Your Hearing Loss with Your Family
You've been diagnosed with hearing loss, now what? Learning this news for the first time can stir up so many different emotions. While you may need the time to process everything your hearing care specialist discussed, it will be beneficial to seek a close family member's support. It may seem uncomfortable to talk to your family about your hearing loss, but it's important to realize that it impacts them as well.
First, Tell Your Family About Your Hearing Loss
Your spouse or significant other should be the first to know, along with your immediate family. Discussing your diagnosis can help your family understand what you are going through and begin to adapt to communicating with you in new ways (such as only speaking to you while facing you).
Take Time to Explain Your Hearing Loss
People who don't have hearing loss or haven't ever experienced it in any form may be challenging to understand what it is like not to hear well or not hear at all. You can help them understand by explaining what it feels like not to hear conversations, or at the next family meal, have them wear earplugs and experience difficulty hearing.
Share How You Feel About Your Hearing Loss
When you share your emotions instead of holding them in, it will help your family understand how you feel and bring you closer.
Teach Your Family Communication Best Practices
Even family members that you have known your whole life will need to understand communication best practices. Little things like getting a person's attention, keeping your mouth uncovered, and facing the person you are speaking to can improve communication. When you provide specific best practices, it will help your family understand how they can help you.
Ask Your Family to Be An Advocate With You
Teaching your family about communication best practices will help them understand the challenges you face while communicating and while out in public places. Small things like asking a restaurant manager to lower the background music will show their strong support. This will also help you with the self-advocacy battles that you will likely have in the future.
Use Visual Signals When You Don't Hear Something
Putting your hand to your ear or other gestures can help your family know when you need them to repeat something that you didn't hear clearly or at all. This can help eliminate the frustration that can happen on both sides of the conversation from repeatedly asking to talk louder or more clearly.
Try New Technologies
Have your family help you test new assistive living devices to see if it helps everyone while out to dinner or other social settings. Young family members will enjoy this as they tend to be more tech-savvy. Contact us today at 864-881-1663 to schedule a curbside or in-office appointment. Our four convenient locations in Simpsonville, Greer, Travelers Rest, and Greenville will make attending appointments easy!
Telling your family about your hearing loss is important.
Interested in more articles about hearing aids?
