Suggestions for the individual with suspected hearing loss:

• Seek a professional evaluation and opinion regarding the hearing loss from a licensed audiologist.

• Be sure to work closely with the audiologist to learn all that you can about your loss. Invite the family to join in so that they too can learn more about what you are experiencing.

• Work with the audiologist to set realistic expectations for improvement. Learn to know and accept the things you can not change, and with the help of your audiologist, your family and friends – strive to change / improve in all the areas that are possible.

• Give serious consideration to any recommendations regarding amplification (hearing instruments), and make sure you have a trial use of the hearing instruments with the option of returning them if dissatisfied with the benefit.

• If hearing instruments are used, follow the recommendations of your audiologist regarding proper use and care of the devices.

• Ask your audiologist about the availability of aural rehabilitation training/classes in your area.

Suggestions for the family and friends of the hearing impaired:

The important role of the family and friends of the individual with a hearing loss is to be supportive. To help the individual to become aware and accepting of their loss, and to become aware of the options available for improved communication. The family and friends themselves need to be aware that a loss of hearing is more than just a hearing problem.

For most, denial of having a loss of hearing is quiet common. In fact, denial is a common initial reaction to most all of the problems that we face. Denial is a primary defense mechanism. Somehow we seem to feel that if we don’t acknowledge a problem – it will go away. If you, or the individual in your life who has a loss of hearing, seem to be in denial about the hearing loss – it is a normal response. Denial of a hearing loss is a common / natural occurrence. The important thing is to not stay in denial. The problem, the hearing loss, will not go away by denying it. The negative impact the hearing loss has on life will however  increase if gone untreated.

The important first two steps toward the rehabilitation of a hearing loss are the individual’s awareness and acceptance of their loss. How do we do this? How do we help an individual out of denial? Awareness must come before acceptance. A common approach that friends and family often take – is to make the individual aware of their hearing loss through teasing, joking or even ridicule. This most often leads to a more defensive response from the individual suffering from the loss of hearing. A serious more caring approach will most likely be the effective way to let someone know that you feel there is a problem. Perhaps having one or two family members / friends sit down and “communicate” (rather than harass) that you feel that there is a problem, and encourage them to seek a professional evaluation of their hearing. This does not necessarily mean “go buy a hearing aid”, but rather opens the door for the opportunity to evaluate the hearing and learn more about it. Learning more about the hearing loss heightens the awareness of the problem and can be an effective way to bring about acceptance.

In generations past, society has unfortunately looked at hearing loss as a sign of a defect. A sign of old age, or in some cases, a sign of lesser intelligence. We now have the opportunity to show that we are a new and more aware generation. We can embrace aging with respect and view hearing loss as an unfortunate, but natural occurrence in life. By society becoming more aware, more accepting, of hearing impairment – we lessen the social impact, and therefore reduce the emotional impact, for the hearing impaired individual.   

• Be supportive. Encourage them to seek a professional evaluation of their hearing with a licensed audiologist.

• If possible, go with them to the evaluation so that you too can learn as much as possible about the hearing loss.

• Encourage them to try amplification if it is recommended, and work with them in learning the proper use and care of the instruments.

• With the help of the audiologist, help establish realistic expectations for improvement.

• Ask your audiologist for a list of guidelines for optimum communication with the hearing impaired.

• Be understanding and patient.