Worried About a Loved-one’s Hearing Loss? How You Can Help

Hearing loss can have a huge impact on an individual's life, leading tofrustration in communicating with others, feelings of isolation ...

Hearing loss can have a huge impact on an individual’s life, leading tofrustration in communicating with others, feelings of isolation and a reducedquality of life. While hearing can be damaged by accidents or infections, gradual decline is far more common in the older population.

Research from charity group suggests that one in ten people in the UK could benefit from the use of a hearing aid, but only one in 30 does. Identifying the problem early and addressing hearing loss with a hearing specialist can mean preserving the ability to communicate with friends and family well into later life.

It can be difficult for some people to accept the deterioration of their hearing as a sign of getting older, because there is a stigma often attached to the condition. In a society that seems to focus on youth and energy, having a hearing aid is often seen as an all-to-visual sign of someone’s age and deficiencies. For this reason, friends and family can play an important role in helping someone to identify and deal with degenerative hearing loss.

If you think that someone you know may be having trouble hearing, there are some tell-tale signs to look out for:

  • If that person is asking you to repeat things more frequently, has their TV turned up louder than normal, or is struggling to identify where sounds are coming from, they may have a problem with their hearing.
  • Complaints about people mumbling and becoming more detached from conversations may also be signs that there is a problem.

Once you have a genuine concern, you should broach the subject carefully with the individual. As outlined above, they may be sensitive about the issue, so it is important to explain how their life could be improved by seeking help. Modern hearing aids are also very different to those from years gone by – many are much more discreet than people expect them to be. This is another point that should be raised when discussing the subject to try and ease their fears.

Once a hearing aid is in use, it may also be sensible to advise friends and family not to draw attention to it until the user feels more comfortable with the device and is beginning to appreciate the benefits it brings.

– A guest post from Amplifon an organisation with 60 years’ experience andmore than 5,700 specialist centres in 19 countries, they strive to be theworld’s leading dedicated hearing aid specialist.

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