Thanksgiving is a treasured time for family get-togethers, filled with laughter, stories, and moments of gratitude. It also offers a perfect caring environment to address essential health concerns, including hearing loss. With loved ones gathered around, this holiday can be a perfect moment to initiate a conversation about hearing difficulties and encourage finding solutions.
Getting ready for a supportive discussion
During family get-togethers, it can make a big difference for a loved one with hearing loss, if you cultivate a caring and welcoming vibe. The following are some guidelines to help everybody feel comfortable, particularly family members 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 involved in conversations. If you seat them at the end of the table, they will lose out on conversations 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 like they are being ambushed. When the whole family is aware and engaged, the discussion is less likely to seem like criticism from a single person and more like a family show of support.
Minimize Background Noise: Try to keep background noise, including music, at a reduced volume. It will be easier to have a concentrated discussion with your loved one without the distraction of loud background noise. Consider turning off the TV or other electronic devices that may increase the noise.
Delicately broaching the discussion
Talking about hearing loss can be sensitive, and it’s important to address it with compassion. Thanksgiving is a time when families gather and show support for each other and give thanks, making it the perfect setting for this conversation. The following are some guidelines about how to deal with this discussion:
- Convey Gratitude and Care: Start by articulating how much your loved one means to you. Describe how thankful you are that they are part of your life. This creates a positive atmosphere and makes it clear that your concern comes from a place of care and love.
- Offer Immediate Tips for Better Communication: Suggest small, helpful short-term changes. If your loved one is having a difficult time understanding what people are saying, encourage them to request that people speak more slowly and clearly. Remind them that when they are in loud settings, it’s okay to ask people to repeat themselves. By utilizing these guidelines, your loved one will feel less frustrated and more included at gatherings.
- Address the Issue with Compassion: Inform your loved one that it seems like they may be having difficulty hearing and that you’re concerned for their well-being. Frame the discussion around improving their quality of life instead of focusing on the problem itself. For example, you may say, “I’ve noticed it’s been a little harder for you to follow with conversations recently, and I want to make sure you can really enjoy our family gatherings”.
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 delicately initiate the idea of long-term solutions.
- Reassure Ongoing Family Support: Make sure they understand that they won’t need to go through any of the process alone. From the process of scheduling and going to the appointments to adjusting to new hearing aids, assure them that their family is there to help. Reinforce that taking this step is about enhancing their overall quality of life and enjoying more experiences together.
- Introduce the Idea of Hearing Aids: If the discussion is going well, you could bring up potential solutions including hearing aids. Help them realize that hearing aids are discreet and will better their quality of life by improving their ability to take part in conversations and engage in social connections. Maybe you could say something like “Hearing aids will improve your life and help you get more joy from social connections, and there are so many options to select 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. Offer to help set up the appointment or go with them for support. Talk about the importance of having their hearing evaluated in order to identify the state of their hearing health.
The true spirit of Thanksgiving: showing support for one another
Coming together with loved ones and offering support is the real spirit of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to address a loved one’s hearing loss as a thoughtful show of support that will help them experience the joy of family get-togethers once more. Don’t fail to make the most of this loving and supportive environment to have a sincere conversation about your loved one’s hearing loss.
Future holiday get-togethers will be that much more enjoyable and unforgettable after you have successfully encouraged your loved one to take this important first step. By exhibiting care and compassion, you will help them feel less isolated and more included in the moments that matter most.
This Thanksgiving, take a minute to have this significant discussion. It’s an act of love that could transform their experience not just during the holiday season, but throughout the whole year.