Caring for Family Members with Hearing Impairments

Written by Hearlink

Even if you’re not directly impacted by hearing loss of your own, chances are that you know a friend, or a family member, who has been. Did you know that more than 20% of the Australian population has some degree of hearing loss? This is a number that only continues to climb. That’s why, today, we’re showcasing Hearlink – another local organisation whose mission is to spread awareness and educate about prevention of hearing loss. Let’s take a look at some valuable ways that you can care for family members with hearing impairments:

Patience is priceless.

Those impacted by hearing loss are frequently the least likely to know. They’re used to their own levels of hearing, so may overcompensate by speaking loudly or out of turn. They may miss out on entire portions of conversations or need you to repeat things multiple times. Remember that they’re not doing this on purpose, nor do they relish sharing that they have issues with their hearing. Bonus points if you put a positive spin on the hearing impairment. It’s becoming more common to compare hearing aids to glasses, an accessory which can be styling and is totally acceptable in public.

Get educated.

We don’t mean that you need to make multiple trips to the public library. Thanks to the Information Age, you can hop on the World Wide Web and get up to speed on what a hearing impairment means for your family member and for you. Make sure that you ask questions. Reach out to either the Tunstall or Hearlink teams! We’re fortunate to live in an age where you don’t need to schedule an appointment with your audiologist or your general doctor weeks in advance. Instead, if you have a specific situation, you can share it with doctors who are available online and in real-time.

Build your networks.

Tying in to the tip above, there is so much strength in numbers. You’re not blabbing when you share the situation with your other loved ones; you’re setting them up for success. Share a brief email, outlining what’s going on and how they can help. Perhaps it’s with monetary donations, but more likely, it’s with emotional support. Those with hearing impairments may be terrified about the adjustments that their family members will need to make, or that they might lose them altogether. Circumvent this fear with family get-togethers where positivity and happy memories are the focus.

Bottom line, just take it one step at a time. Though there is no current cure to hearing loss, there are more and more tools available each day which help those impaired and the family members affected live full and fulfilling lives.

Find out more about Hearlink at http://www.hearlink.com.au/