May 22, 2024
Seniors with hearing loss can benefit from these strategies for better communication.
“Excuse me?”
“Would you say that again, dear?”
“I apologize—what did you say?”
If this sounds familiar in your conversations with a beloved older adult, you’re not alone. The National Institute on Aging reports a strong connection between aging and hearing loss, with as many as half of all individuals age 75 and older experiencing hearing problems.
Senior hearing loss generally sneaks up little by little. After a while, the damage to the ears from noise contributes to hearing loss by causing damage to the vulnerable inner ear. However, seniors with hearing loss typically wait on average seven years before getting help, and more than 15 million people in the U.S. with hearing loss never seek help at all.
Though hearing loss is permanent, our home care experts want those who are impacted by its effects to know that there are tactics to help effectively manage hearing loss. These strategies for better communication can help seniors communicate more successfully:
- Find quiet settings
- Think about using an assistive listening device — hearing devices, including television-listening systems or telephone-amplifying products help people hear better while lessening other sounds
- Position themselves to hear better by facing the person to whom they are communicating
- Turn off all distracting background noise
- Look into using devices such as flashing/vibrating clocks and phones; visible doorbell alerts; specialty smoke and burglar alarms
- Ask others to speak clearly
Family members can help by:
- Adapting the home environment when feasible, to accommodate the special needs of those with a hearing loss
- Being sensitive to the impact hearing loss has on the older person and the stages of adjustment the senior may go through before acceptance
- Knowing the signs of hearing loss and making appropriate referrals
- Seeking out the support of experts like those at Continuum who have developed expertise in providing quality home care to seniors with hearing loss
For more assistance…
- Contact AssistGuide Information Services for new and improved devices for accommodating hearing loss
- Contact Continuum for help with finding ways to live comfortably despite hearing loss
Unfortunately, many older adults begin to feel left out and isolated when enduring hearing loss. The caring, fully-trained care providers at Continuum can help provide relief for lonely older adults through companionship, transportation to appointments and events, and more. Call us any time at (314) 863-9912 or (636) 861-3336 or contact us online to find out more about our home care services in Kirkwood, Sunset Hills, St. Charles, and the surrounding areas.