Whether you’re writing a card for a relative across the country or making that pie your grandchildren love for a big family dinner, the holidays are a season to spend a little extra time thinking about your loved ones. If one of our loved ones has hearing loss, helping them stay engaged throughout the season is one excellent way to show them you care.
How Can the Holidays Be Tricky for People With Hearing Loss?
More than 10% of people in the United States have hearing loss. For many of them, the increased number of social engagements, typically with an extensive guest list, hectic grocery stores and added fatigue from a year-end work push, can all make grappling with hearing loss more challenging.
How To Help Your Loved One
You might not be able to help your loved ones navigate that year-end push at work, but there are plenty of ways you can ease their fatigue by making communication easier:
- Speak clearly. When you’re at a holiday event with your loved one, speak at a natural pace and volume to make your speech easier to understand. Remember not to overenunciate or shout. While it may seem helpful to do so, it’s more likely to impede their understanding.
- Talk face-to-face. People with hearing loss benefit from body language and facial expressions. When you’re having a conversation, avoid looking at your phone or talking from another room.
- Reduce background noise. If you’re hosting, try to keep background noise, like the TV or music, to a minimum.
- Help with chores. If your loved one feels overwhelmed at the prospect of navigating a bustling pre-holiday grocery store or the Tucson Mall, offer to do some of those shopping chores for or with them. The simple addition of a friendly face can alleviate much of the stress associated with hectic stores.
- Be patient. If your loved one asks you to repeat yourself, try not to feel annoyed. Remember that they aren’t choosing to misunderstand you. Repeat or rephrase yourself calmly and offer context when necessary to improve understanding.
A little consideration goes a long way in helping your loved one have the best holiday season yet. To learn more about hearing loss or to schedule your own hearing test, contact Arizona Hearing Specialists today.