Thanksgiving is a cherished time for family get-togethers, filled with merriment, stories, and sentiments of gratitude. It also provides a perfect caring environment to tackle essential health concerns, including hearing loss. With family members gathered around, this holiday can be a perfect moment to initiate a conversation about hearing difficulties and encourage finding solutions.
Preparing for a supportive conversation
Creating a welcoming environment for somebody with hearing loss can make a big difference during a family get-together. The following are some guidelines to help everyone feel comfortable, especially family members who are dealing with hearing loss:
- Minimize Background Noise: Keep music and other background noises at a lower volume. It will be easier to have a focused discussion with your family member without the distraction of loud background noise. Electronic devices, like the TV, can present significant distractions and it’s a smart plan to turn them off before the conversation.
- Notify Family Members in Advance: Inform other family members that you plan to bring up the topic of hearing loss. This will allow everybody to be ready for the discussion and your family member with hearing loss won’t feel as if they are being ambushed. It will feel more like a family support system and less like criticism, for the individual with hearing loss, when the entire family is involved.
- Thoughtful Seating Arrangements: Position your loved one near the center of the table where they are more likely to be involved in conversations. If you sit them at the end of the table, they will miss out on discussions taking place a little further away.
Initiating the conversation with compassion
It’s essential to be thoughtful when beginning a conversation about a sensitive subject like hearing loss. Thanksgiving is a time when families gather and show support for one another and give thanks, making it the ideal setting for this conversation. The following are some guidelines about how to approach this conversation:
- Offer Immediate Tips for Better Communication: Suggest simple changes that can help in the short term. Encourage your loved one to ask others to talk more slowly or clearly if they’re having trouble understanding. Remind them that it’s fine to ask people to repeat themselves in loud environments. By implementing these guidelines, your loved one will feel less frustrated and more included at gatherings.
- Address the Problem with Empathy: Inform your loved one that it seems like they may be having difficulty hearing and that you’re concerned for their well-being. Instead of focusing on the issue itself, talk more about how they can enhance their quality of life. 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 keeping up with 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 lets your loved one know that you care about, and are concerned about their well-being, creating a positive tone from the outset.
Long-term solution should be discussed
After you put your loved one at ease by letting them know how much you care about them, it’s time to delicately broach the idea of long-term solutions.
- Reassure Ongoing Family Support: Make sure they know that they won’t have to deal with any of the process alone. From the process of scheduling and going to the appointments to adjusting to new hearing aids, reassure them that their family is there to help. Help them realize that they will be able to better enjoy precious 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 exam as the next thing they should do. Let them know that you will help them set up the appointment and of course, you will be there with them for support. Talk about the importance of getting their hearing tested in order to identify the state of their hearing health.
- Introduce the Idea of Hearing Aids: If the discussion is going well, you might bring up potential solutions like hearing aids. Share that modern hearing aids are discreet, effective, and can substantially better their ability to take part in conversations and enjoy social events. Perhaps you could say something like “Hearing aids will improve your life and help you get more joy from social connections, and there are so many options to select from, you will easily find a solution that works for you”.
Families showing support for each other is the true spirit of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is about joining together and showing our love and appreciation for one another. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to tackle a family member’s hearing loss as a meaningful show of support that will help them experience the joy of family gatherings once more. Don’t miss the opportunity to have this heartfelt discussion in an environment where they can feel the full support of their family.
Future holiday get-togethers will be that much more pleasant and memorable after you have successfully inspired your loved one to take this important first step. By showing care and compassion, you will help them feel less separated and more included in the moments that matter most.
Take a little time to begin this significant conversation this Thanksgiving. This act of love will improve their lives every day not only during the holiday season.