Thanksgiving is a cherished time for family get-togethers, filled with laughter, stories, and sentiments of gratitude. It’s also a great occasion to address important health concerns, including hearing loss, in a supportive and compassionate setting. Thanksgiving is a holiday when family gathers together, making it the perfect time to broach the topic of hearing loss with loved ones who may be coping with it and encourage them to find solutions.
Planning a discussion to support your loved one
During family get-togethers, it can make a big difference for a family member who has hearing loss, if you create a compassionate and welcoming vibe. The following are a few guidelines to help everybody feel comfortable, particularly loved ones who are dealing with hearing loss:
- Minimize Background Noise: Keep music and other background noises at a reduced volume. It will be easier to have a focused conversation with your loved one without the distraction of loud background noise. Think about turning off the TV or other audio devices that might increase the noise.
- Thoughtful Seating Arrangements: Seat your loved one near the center of the table where they are more likely to be involved in conversations. If you seat them at the end of the table, they will lose out on conversations taking place a little further away.
- Notify Family Members in Advance: Inform other family members that you plan to bring up the subject of hearing loss. This will allow everyone to be prepared for the discussion and your loved one with hearing loss won’t feel like they are being ambushed. It will seem more like a family support system and less like criticism, for the individual with hearing loss, when the whole family is involved.
Approaching 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 get together and show support for each other and express gratitude, making it the ideal setting for this conversation. The following are some tips about how to approach this discussion:
- Address the Issue with Empathy: Let your loved one know that you’ve noticed they may be having difficulty hearing and that you’re mentioning it because you care about their well-being. Frame the discussion around improving their quality of life instead of targeting the problem itself. For instance, you may say, “I’ve noticed it’s been a little more difficult for you to follow with conversations lately, and I want to make sure you can really enjoy our family gatherings”.
- Offer Immediate Tips for Better Communication: Recommend small changes that can help in the short term. If your loved one is having a hard time understanding what people are saying, encourage them to ask that people speak more slowly and clearly. Remind them that when they are in loud environments, it’s acceptable to ask people to repeat themselves. These approaches can help them feel more included and less frustrated during gatherings.
- Convey Gratitude and Care: The first thing to do is to tell your loved one that they mean a lot to you. Mention how thankful you are to have them in your life. This sets a positive tone and makes it clear that your worries stems from a place of care and love.
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.
- Introduce the Idea of Hearing Aids: If the conversation is going well, you could bring up potential solutions including hearing aids. Help them understand that hearing aids are discreet and will better their quality of life by improving their ability to take part in conversations and engage in social connections. Perhaps you could say something like “Hearing aids will improve your life and help you get greater joy from social connections, and there are so many options to select from, you will easily find a solution that works for you”.
- Propose a Hearing Test: Suggest scheduling a hearing exam as the next step. Inform them that you will help them schedule the appointment and of course, you will be there with them for support. Help them understand that a hearing test is a simple, non-invasive way to get a better idea of their .
- Reassure Ongoing Family Support: Make sure they understand that they won’t have to go through any of the process alone. From the process of scheduling and going to the appointments to adapting to new hearing aids, reassure them that their family is there to help. Reinforce that taking this step is about improving their overall quality of life and enjoying more moments together.
The genuine spirit of Thanksgiving: supporting each other
Thanksgiving is about coming together and showing our love and gratitude for one another. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to address a loved one’s hearing loss as a meaningful show of support that will help them find the joy of family get-togethers once again. Don’t fail to take advantage of this loving and supportive setting to have a sincere conversation about your loved one’s hearing loss.
Future holiday get-togethers will be that much more enjoyable and memorable after you have successfully encouraged your loved one to take this significant first step. Help them feel more included and less separated with your encouraging care and compassion.
Take a little time to initiate this important discussion this Thanksgiving. This act of love will better their lives every day not just during the holiday season.