Family Thanksgiving gatherings are a time of storytelling, laughter, and, of course, giving thanks. It also offers a perfect caring environment to address essential health concerns, and this includes hearing loss. With family members gathered around, this holiday can be a perfect moment to initiate a conversation about hearing difficulties and encourage seeking solutions.
Getting ready for a supportive discussion
Developing a welcoming environment for someone with hearing loss can make a big difference during a family gathering. The following are some suggestions to help everyone feel comfortable, especially family members who are dealing with hearing loss:
- Notify Family Members in Advance: Let other family members know that you plan to talk about the subject of hearing loss. This will allow everybody to be ready for the conversation and your family member with hearing loss won’t feel as though they are being ambushed. It will seem more like a family support system and less like criticism, for the person with hearing loss, when the whole family is involved.
- Thoughtful Seating Arrangements: Seat your loved one near the middle 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 discussions happening a little further away.
Minimize Background Noise: Try to keep background noise, including music, at a reduced volume. This reduces distractions and makes it much easier for your family member to pay attention to the conversation. Electronic devices, like the TV, can present considerable distractions and it’s a good idea to turn them off before the discussion.
Gently broaching the discussion
It’s important to be thoughtful when initiating a conversation about a sensitive subject like hearing loss. Thanksgiving provides a perfect setting to have this discussion because it’s a time when families give thanks and show support for each other. Here’s how to tackle the discussion:
- Express Gratitude and Care: The first thing to do is to tell your loved one that they mean a lot to you. Describe how thankful you are to have them in your life. This creates a positive atmosphere and makes it clear that your worries comes from a place of love and care.
- Address the Issue with Empathy: Inform your loved one that it seems as if they might 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 improve their quality of life. For example, you may say, “I’ve noticed it’s been a little harder for you to follow with conversations lately, and I want to make sure you can fully enjoy our family gatherings”.
- Offer Immediate Tips for Better Communication: Suggest simple 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 it’s okay to ask people to repeat themselves in noisy environments. These strategies can help them feel more included and less frustrated during gatherings.
Long-term solution should be discussed
Once your loved one feels supported and recognizes that the conversation comes from a place of concern, you can gently present the concept of exploring long-term solutions.
- Reassure Ongoing Family Support: Emphasize that seeking treatment for hearing loss isn’t something they will have to confront alone. Let them know that the family is there to support them through the entire process, from making appointments to adapting to new hearing aids if necessary. Help them understand that they will be able to better enjoy precious moments with loved ones and an overall enhanced quality of life by taking this step.
- Propose a Hearing Test: Encourage scheduling a hearing exam as the next step. Inform them 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 evaluated in order to identify the state of their hearing health.
- Introduce the Idea of Hearing Aids: If the conversation is going well, you could talk about potential solutions like hearing aids. Share that modern hearing aids are discreet, reliable, and can substantially better their ability to participate in conversations and enjoy social events. Maybe 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 choose from, you will easily find a solution that works for you”.
Families showing support for one another is the real spirit of Thanksgiving.
Getting together with loved ones and offering support is the real meaning of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the ideal time to address a family member’s hearing loss as a meaningful show of support that will help them find the happiness of family get-togethers once more. Don’t miss the opportunity to have this sincere conversation in a setting where they can feel the full support of their family.
Future holiday gatherings will be that much more enjoyable and memorable after you have successfully encouraged your loved one to take this essential first step. By exhibiting care and empathy, you will help them feel less isolated and more included in the moments that matter most.
Take a little time to initiate this important discussion this Thanksgiving. It’s an act of love that could improve their experience not just during the holiday season, but throughout the entire year.
