Thanksgiving is a treasured time for family get-togethers, filled with laughter, stories, and sentiments of gratitude. It’s also a great opportunity to address important health concerns, including hearing loss, in a supportive and compassionate setting. With loved ones gathered around, this holiday can be a perfect moment to initiate a conversation about hearing difficulties and encourage seeking solutions.
Organizing a discussion to support your loved one
Creating a welcoming environment for someone with hearing loss can make a huge difference during a family get-together. The following are some guidelines to help everyone feel comfortable, particularly loved ones who are dealing with hearing loss:
- Thoughtful Seating Arrangements: Seat your loved one near the middle of the table where they are more likely to be included in conversations. If you sit them at the end of the table, they will lose out on conversations taking place a little further away.
- Notify Family Members in Advance: Make sure you mention your plan to talk about hearing loss with your other members of the family. This will allow everybody to be prepared for the conversation and your loved one with hearing loss won’t feel like they are being ambushed. When the whole family is aware and engaged, the conversation is less likely to feel like criticism from one person and more like a collective show of support.
Minimize Background Noise: Keep music and other ambient noises at a reduced volume. This reduces distractions and makes it much 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 conversation.
Approaching the conversation with compassion
Mentioning hearing loss can be sensitive, and it’s important to address it with compassion. Thanksgiving offers a perfect setting to have this discussion because it’s a time when families give thanks and show support for one another. The following are some guidelines about how to approach this conversation:
- Offer Immediate Tips for Better Communication: Recommend small, helpful short-term changes. Urge 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 environments. By implementing these guidelines, your loved one will feel less frustrated and more included at gatherings.
- Address the Issue with Empathy: Inform your loved one that it seems as if they may be having difficulty hearing and that you’re concerned for their well-being. Instead of concentrating on the problem itself, talk more about how they can enhance their quality of life. For instance, you might say, “I’ve noticed it’s been a bit more difficult for you to keep up with conversations lately, and I want to make sure you can really enjoy our family gatherings”.
- Convey Gratitude and Care: Start by articulating how much your loved one means to you. Talk about how thankful you are that they are part of 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.
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 gently initiate the idea of long-term solutions.
- Reassure Ongoing Family Support: Emphasize 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, reassure them that their family is there to help. Help them realize that they will be able to better enjoy precious moments with loved ones and an overall enhanced quality of life by taking this step.
- Propose a Hearing Test: Suggest scheduling a hearing exam as the next step. Offer to help set up the appointment or go with them for support. Help them understand that a hearing test is an easy, non-invasive way to get a better idea of their .
- Introduce the Idea of Hearing Aids: If the discussion is going well, you could talk about potential solutions like hearing aids. Express that modern hearing aids are discreet, reliable, and can significantly better their ability to engage in conversations and enjoy social events. Perhaps 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 select from, you will easily find a solution that works for you”.
The genuine spirit of Thanksgiving: supporting each other
Thanksgiving is about coming together and showing our love and gratitude for one another. Thanksgiving is the ideal time to address a family member’s hearing loss as a thoughtful show of support that will help them find the joy of family gatherings once again. Don’t fail to take advantage of this loving and supportive environment to have a heartfelt discussion about your loved one’s hearing loss.
Encouraging your loved one to take the first step towards improved hearing can make future holidays even more memorable and enjoyable for everyone involved. Help them feel more included and less separated with your supportive care and empathy.
Take a little time to initiate this important conversation this Thanksgiving. This act of love will improve their lives every day not only during the holiday season.