How Can You Help a Loved One Who Has a Hearing Loss?
It’s never easy to approach someone who you suspect has a hearing loss. Many are fearful about admitting that they have an issue due to the historic stigma that surrounds these conditions, and instead, spend years in denial as their problems worsen.
The world-class treatment that we provide at South Bay Hearing can make a huge difference to someone’s experience of the world. This is how you can spot hearing loss symptoms, and what to do next if you think a loved one is exhibiting them.
What are the early signs?
Hearing loss can go undetected for so long because it’s easy to miss the initial symptoms. Most people who are in the early stages can still hear sounds well and don’t have any trouble recognizing when someone else is speaking. But they may have issues with the clarity of their hearing, which will make it hard for them to precisely distinguish the words that a person is saying.
In practical terms, you might find a loved one often says “huh?” or “what?” when talking with others and asks you to repeat certain words and phrases. You may see that they begin to focus on your lips during conversations, as unconsciously, those with an early hearing loss tend to start lipreading.
What are the later signs?
When someone’s hearing loss has developed more significantly, you’ll see a different range of new symptoms emerging. In particular, a profound hearing loss can make someone’s conversations and daily interactions very tiring, with this impacting their life far more. For example, they can find family gatherings around the dinner table, where lots of people are talking at once, a tough situation in which to participate.
They may also give up on conversations, and simply nod and smile in groups because they simply can’t follow what others are saying. In some cases, a person may avoid contact with others altogether, as they perceive communication as too challenging or feel ashamed of their symptoms.
What can you do?
Many people’s hearing loss is permanent. Just like your eyesight, once it’s damaged, it needs to be treated with specialized care over the course of a lifetime to prevent further decline. This treatment is crucial, as it can protect against other health issues, with researchers showing that a neglected hearing loss can raise someone’s risk of getting dementia.
If you’re concerned that a loved one has hearing loss symptoms, it’s important to tell them that while they’re not deaf, they could hugely improve their life experience with specialist help. You can also point out that well-known celebrities, including Halle Berry, Barbra Streisand, Rob Lowe, and Robert Redford, have all treated a hearing loss and reduced the stigma in the process. And with the associated long-term health implications, you can suggest that the smart thing to do is to attend a simple consultation with the experts at South Bay Hearing.
Once someone takes the first steps on their journey to better hearing, the results are often far better than they ever imagined.
Are you concerned about a hearing loss or know someone else who is? Contact the team at South Bay Hearing, and they’ll be happy to help you move forward!
