Thanksgiving is a treasured time for family get-togethers, filled with merriment, stories, and moments of gratitude. It also provides a perfect caring environment to address important health concerns, and this includes hearing loss. With family members gathered around, this holiday can be a perfect moment to start a conversation about hearing troubles and encourage finding solutions.
Preparing for a supportive discussion
Creating a welcoming setting for someone with hearing loss can make a big difference during a family get-together. The following are a few guidelines to help everyone feel comfortable, particularly loved ones who are dealing with hearing loss:
- Notify Family Members in Advance: Inform other family members that you plan to bring up the subject of hearing loss. This will allow everyone to be ready for the conversation and your family member with hearing loss won’t feel as if they are being ambushed. When the whole family is aware and involved, the conversation is less likely to feel like criticism from a single person and more like a family show of support.
- Thoughtful Seating Arrangements: Your family member will feel more included in conversations if you seat them near the center of the table. Avoid placing them at the ends where they might struggle to hear conversations happening further away.
Minimize Background Noise: Try to keep background noise, including music, at a reduced volume. This reduces distractions and makes it much easier for your loved one to pay attention to the conversation. Consider turning off the TV or other audio devices that might increase the noise.
Initiating the discussion with care
Bringing up hearing loss can be delicate, and it’s important to approach it with compassion. Thanksgiving is a time when families get together and show support for one another and express gratitude, making it the perfect setting for this conversation. Here’s how to approach the discussion:
- Offer Immediate Tips for Better Communication: Recommend small, helpful short-term changes. Encourage your loved one to ask others to talk 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 noisy settings. These approaches can help them feel more included and less frustrated during get-togethers.
- Address the Problem with Compassion: Inform your loved one that it seems as if they might be having trouble hearing and that you’re concerned for their well-being. Structure the discussion around improving their quality of life instead of targeting the problem itself. You might say something like “I want to help you get the most out of these family gatherings, and it seems like you might be having a hard time following conversations”.
- Convey Gratitude and Care: Begin by articulating how much your loved one means to you. Discuss how lucky you feel to have them as a part of your life. This sets a positive tone and makes it clear that your concern stems from a place of care and love.
Discussing long-term solutions
Once your loved one feels supported and recognizes that the conversation comes from a place of concern, you can delicately introduce the idea of exploring long-term solutions.
- Reassure Ongoing Family Support: Point out that seeking treatment for hearing loss isn’t something they will have to face alone. Let them know that the family is there to comfort them through the whole process, from scheduling appointments to adapting 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.
- Propose a Hearing Test: Advocate for your loved one to schedule a hearing test as the next thing they should do. Inform them that you will help them make the appointment and of course, you will be there with them for support. Discuss the importance of getting their hearing evaluated in order to identify the state of their hearing health.
- Introduce the Idea of Hearing Aids: If the conversation is going well, you could talk about potential solutions including hearing aids. Help them understand that hearing aids are discreet and will better their quality of life by improving their ability to participate in conversations and engage in social interactions. Perhaps you could say something like “Hearing aids will improve your life and help you get more 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
Coming together with loved ones and offering support is the real meaning of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to tackle a loved one’s hearing loss as a thoughtful show of support that will help them experience the happiness of family gatherings once more. Don’t fail to take advantage of this loving and supportive setting to have a sincere conversation about your loved one’s hearing loss.
Future holiday gatherings will be that much more pleasant and unforgettable after you have successfully inspired your loved one to take this significant first step. By showing 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 important conversation. This act of love will improve their lives every day not only during the holiday season.
