Family Thanksgiving gatherings are a time of storytelling, laughter, and, of course, giving thanks. It also offers a perfect caring environment to address essential health concerns, including hearing loss. With family members gathered around, this holiday can be a perfect time to start a conversation about hearing troubles and encourage finding solutions.
Organizing a discussion to support your loved one
Developing a welcoming setting for someone with hearing loss can make a big difference during a family get-together. Here are a few tips to ensure your home is comfortable for everybody, particularly for people who may struggle to hear clearly:
- Thoughtful Seating Arrangements: Your loved one will feel more involved in conversations if you seat them near the center of the table. If you seat them at the end of the table, they will lose out on discussions happening a little further away.
- Notify Family Members in Advance: Let other family members know that you plan to bring up the topic of hearing loss. This will allow everyone to be ready for the discussion and your family member with hearing loss won’t feel as though they are being ambushed. 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.
Minimize Background Noise: Keep music and other background noises at a reduced volume. It will be easier to have a focused conversation with your loved one without the distraction of loud background noise. Think about turning off the TV or other electronic devices that may increase the noise.
Delicately broaching the conversation
Talking about hearing loss can be sensitive, and it’s essential to address it with compassion. Thanksgiving provides a perfect setting to have this discussion because it’s a time when families express gratitude and show support for each other. Here’s how to tackle the conversation:
- Convey Gratitude and Care: Begin by articulating how much your loved one means to you. Talk about how thankful you are to have them in your life. This lets your loved one know that you care about, and are worried about their well-being, setting a positive tone from the beginning.
- Offer Immediate Tips for Better Communication: Recommend simple changes that can help in the short term. If your loved one is having a hard time understanding what people are saying, encourage them to request that people speak more slowly and clearly. Remind them that it’s fine 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 Problem with Compassion: 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. Structure the discussion around improving their quality of life rather than targeting the problem itself. You might say something like “I want to help you get the most from these family get-togethers, and it seems as if you might be having difficulty following conversations”.
Long-term solution should be discussed
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: Encourage scheduling a hearing test as the next step. 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 a simple, non-invasive way to get a clearer picture of their .
- Reassure Ongoing Family Support: Point out that seeking treatment for hearing loss isn’t something they will have to confront alone. Let them know that the family is there to support them through the entire process, from making appointments to adjusting to new hearing aids if needed. Help them comprehend that they will be able to better enjoy cherished moments with loved ones and an overall improved quality of life by taking this step.
- Introduce the Idea of Hearing Aids: If your loved one seems to be receptive to the conversation, solutions like hearing aids can be mentioned. Help them realize that hearing aids are discreet and will better their quality of life by enhancing their ability to take part in conversations and engage in social connections. You can say something like, “There are so many great options now that could help you hear better and make it easier to join in the conversations”.
Families showing support for one another is the real spirit of Thanksgiving.
Coming together with loved ones and offering support is the real spirit of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the ideal time to tackle a loved one’s hearing loss as a meaningful show of support that will help them find the happiness of family get-togethers once again. Don’t fail to take advantage of this loving and supportive setting to have a heartfelt conversation about your loved one’s hearing loss.
Future holiday get-togethers will be that much more enjoyable and memorable after you have successfully inspired your loved one to take this important first step. Help them feel more included and less isolated with your encouraging care and empathy.
Take a little time to begin this important discussion this Thanksgiving. It’s an act of love that could transform their experience not just during the holiday season, but throughout the whole year.