Hearing loss impacts millions of people worldwide and caregivers play a crucial role in supporting those with hearing loss. There are unique considerations when caring for someone with hearing loss. These may include using effective communication strategies, ensuring the proper use of hearing aids, and maintaining a safe environment. By providing this support, caregivers can support those with hearing loss.
Effective communication strategies are critical when speaking to someone with hearing loss. Before starting a conversation, ensure you have the intended listener’s attention. You can do this by tapping their shoulder, standing before them, or saying their name. Eye contact also helps show you that your listener is ready to receive the message. To read more about effective communication strategies, visit this article Communicate with Confidence: Effective Communication Strategies for People with Hearing Loss.
It’s important to make sure the person you’re caring for is wearing and taking care of their hearing aids. Encourage them to wear the hearing aid for all waking hours to help promote conversation. If they cannot tolerate all-day use, they should wear hearing aids as often as they can. Be sure to remove the hearing aids before they enter the shower, bath, or pool. Whenever the hearing aids are not in their ears, place them into a protective case. This will keep the hearing aids from being lost or damaged. It's also important to follow advice provided by their hearing care provider. This may include changing batteries, ear tips, or wax guards.
Creating a great communication environment may include implementing safety measures, so you and those you are caring for remain safe. Check that the smoke detectors have working batteries so the alarm works during an emergency. Some smoke detectors have bright, flashing lights to help signal the alarm is going off. Some people with hearing loss use bedside alarms with an attachment called a “bed shaker”. The bed shaker will shake the bed and wake the person up if they don’t hear their alarm. Additionally, it has been shown that hearing loss can increase the risk of falls.1 Make sure there are railings and grab bars in place for someone with hearing loss. Placing carpets or non-slip mats and ensuring the area is well-lit can also help reduce the risk of falls. Creating a safe living environment can significantly improve the life of someone with hearing loss.
Finally, be patient and understanding. Individuals with hearing loss may need extra time to process what you said.2 Give them time to listen and comprehend. If they did not hear what you said, try saying it again in a different way. This provides the listener with more context so they can listen and respond. Your patience and support can make a big difference in their journey with hearing loss.
- Riska, K. M., Peskoe, S. B., Kuchibhatla, M., Gordee, A., Pavon, J. M., Kim, S. E., West, J. S., & Smith, S. L. (2022). Impact of Hearing Aid Use on Falls and Falls-Related Injury: Results From the Health and Retirement Study. Ear and hearing, 43(2), 487–494. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000001111
- Wendt, D., Kollmeier, B., & Brand, T. (2015). How hearing impairment affects sentence comprehension: using eye fixations to investigate the duration of speech processing. Trends in hearing, 19, 2331216515584149. https://doi.org/10.1177/2331216515584149