How To Support a Loved One With Hearing Loss

Posted on by Massachusetts Hearing Group

Friends and family are a support system that lifts each other up through good times and bad. There have probably been a few times when you’ve leaned on a sibling, partner or close friend. Now, when one of your loved ones develops hearing loss, it’s your turn to lend a helping hand.

Why Does Support Matter?

Two women sitting on the bench and talking.

Living with hearing loss can feel isolating and even frustrating at times. When your loved one is struggling to understand others or move about the world on their own, knowing that there’s someone there to help can make a world of difference. Offering your support will remind your loved one that they’re not on this journey alone.

Four Ways To Offer Your Support

Try a few of the following to help your loved one through their hearing loss journey:

  • Attend their hearing aid appointment. We tend to think of doctors’ appointments as something you attend alone, but that doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, attending with a loved one may actually improve the likelihood of successful hearing aid adoption[1]. One way to help during their appointment is to take notes. Hearing aid appointments can be full of information, and having someone else there to absorb it will take some of the weight off your loved one’s shoulders. 
  • Listen. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do to help is just to listen. If your loved one needs to vent, listen to what they have to say and don’t try to “solve” or “fix” whatever issue they’re describing unless they ask you to.   
  • Help them communicate. If your loved one can’t hear something clearly or missed it entirely, repeat yourself or offer additional context to help them understand. Avoid over-emphasizing your words or raising your voice.
  • Move locations. Hearing loss makes it tricky to communicate in noisy environments like Saturday night dinners at Hare Of The Dawg. Next time you’re planning an outing, consider the likely noise levels and aim for places that facilitate easier conversation.

For more information about hearing loss, contact Massachusetts Hearing Group today or check out our blog.

[1] Ellis, B. K., Singh, G., & Launer, S. (2022). Hearing Aid Adoption is Associated with the Type of Significant Other in Attendance at Hearing Care Appointments. Trends in hearing, 26, 23312165221131703. https://doi.org/10.1177/23312165221131703