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If your loved one is experiencing hearing loss, they are likely feeling many complex feelings as they adjust to their changing hearing capabilities. Their hearing loss may be the result of a gradual process. You may have noticed they are a bit slower at tracking your conversation or responding to people who are talking to them. They may also appear more reluctant to attend events where there will be a lot of people and noise. Additionally, your loved one may seem increasingly checked out or off in their own world. Activities that you may feel are commonplace, such as watching TV from the comforts of one’s own home or having a one-on-one conversation, can feel difficult to people with hearing loss.
Understanding Hearing Loss
Hearing loss really impacts people’s abilities to connect with friends, loved ones, and favorite activities. People who are hard of hearing can feel disconnected with friends and loved ones who do not understand what hearing loss feels like, so it is important to have advocates around who can help people who are hard of hearing to maintain (or regain) a sense of comfort and confidence. Advocates are people who stick up for others, who act as a go-between, who are ready to assist with anything that may be needed. You can be an advocate within your family, when your loved one needs to interact with medical professionals, or simply one-on-one with your loved one—providing them moral and emotional support.
Tips for Being a Good Advocate
It is important that an advocate be patient, non-judgmental, and willing to work with their loved one on what their needs may be. To this end, the first step in becoming a great advocate is to understand a few key points about hearing loss.
- Hearing loss can happen to people of all ages. Your loved one may not fit the stereotype that only elderly people get hearing loss. It is important that you and your loved one communicate about the causes of their hearing loss. They may have incurred hearing loss as the result of a sudden loud noise, as the result of many long hours worked in a loud work setting such as a factory, or because they spent long hours at concerts with loud music. As an advocate, you should communicate open and honestly about the causes of hearing loss in order that your loved one does not feel judged, or like their body has betrayed them. Hearing loss cannot be “fixed,” but knowing the causes of hearing loss can help your loved one feel more secure in moving forward in establishing healthy hearing habits.
- Hearing loss changes how people communicate—but that does not mean you should shout to communicate with them! Your role as an advocate is to help establish clear communication tools with your loved one and between your loved one and others. You and your loved one should communicate about how they want to communicate. You may find that they prefer to listen out of one particular ear, and that you should move to that side of their body when you want to say something. You should be sure to always establish eye contact when you want to communicate them, as well. Above all, do not be afraid to ask what communication needs your loved one has to feel healthy and supported.
- Give your loved one time to adjust to their new hearing capabilities. If you are frustrated with your loved one’s hearing loss, imagine how they feel. It is physically and emotionally exhausting to experience hearing loss, and to begin to practice different communication skills. As an advocate you can play a huge role in ensuring that your loved one feels safe and secure, where they can take the time they need to adjust to how their hearing loss impacts their everyday life and to plan out ways to ensure future, healthy hearing habits.
Backed with this knowledge, you can play an important role as an advocate with your loved one’s family, friends, coworkers, and medical professionals. You can be an important person who encourages them to take a hearing test, and who works with them as they explore hearing assistance options, such as acquiring a hearing aid. The most important trait of a hearing health advocate is to simply practice loving care and patience.
To learn more about hearing loss and to schedule a hearing test, contact us at New Leaf today.