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Tips for Helping your Grandparents with Hearing Loss By Dr. Jennifer Gehlen, Au.D.
It’s hard to see a beloved grandparent struggle with an impairmentthat is common to aging, such as hearing loss. You may feel helpless, unsure of what you can do to help. Or you may be frustrated, not knowing the best way to convince your grandparent to accept the condition and seek treatment. The good news is hearing loss can often be treated successfully, even in the elderly. You may assume that since hearing loss is a “natural” part of aging, it will inevitably progress and worsen into deafness, so any treatment is only a stopgap or a waste of effort and money. In fact, hearing loss is sometimesthe symptom of aninfection or a side effect of a medicationand can be treated as such.However, if the hearing loss of your grandparent turns out to beprimarily presbycusis (age-related hearing loss)this conditioncan often be kept from declining more rapidly through the early intervention and treatment with hearing aids. If nothing else, hearing aids can improve your grandparent’s daily lifeby improving their interpersonal interactions and fostering independent living. Two of the worst things you can do areto ignore the situation andallow the difficulties of communication to distance you from your grandparent.If you want to take positive actions to help and support your grandparent during this often-difficult time,try following these tips: Have a personal discussion with your grandparent about their hearing loss. You may be tempted to pretend poor hearing isn’t really a problem by automatically raising your voice during conversations, turning the television volume up higher, and otherwise adapting to your grandparent’s diminished hearing capability. Instead, sit down with your grandparent and in a non-confrontational way, explain that you are finding you are shouting, constantly repeating, and otherwise compensating for their hearing loss. Make sure you present the situation as factand not some sort of failing or inconvenience; something for which examination and treatment is necessary, not optional. Resist the temptation to become your grandparent’s de facto hearing aid. You may think you are helping by repeating the server’s questions at a restaurant or even by taking over all communication duties whenever you are together. In reality, you’re enabling your grandparent to avoid dealing with the realities of their hearing loss and encouraging excessive dependence. Only by recognizing they have a problem can your grandparent accept what is going on and become motivated to do something about it. Research options for treating hearing loss and provide information to your grandparent. While many older folks are savvy Internet users, the sheer amount of data can be overwhelming. Be considerate and take some time to research
hearing care professionals in the area, along with possible insurance coverage and the treatment options available. Learn about the latest technology, such as hearing aids that also provide relief from tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and go over your gathered information with your grandparent. Work together to create a clear and simple plan for scheduling a hearing examination and steps for treatment that follow based on all of the possible outcomes from that exam. By making it a team effort, you can help your grandparent feel less confused and overwhelmed. Become your grandparent’s hearing advocate. Whether you are among strangers, family, or friends, your grandparent has a right to be treated with the same respect and inclusion as those who can hear normally. If you find other family members or friends are not including your grandparent in get-togethers, are distancing themselves by not callingor visiting, speak to them about how hurtful this may be andhow unfair it is to exclude a loved one because of declining hearing ability. In situations where you are interacting with others, such as a store clerk, medical professional, or a friend and find they are only conversing with you, gently but firmly remind them not to act as if your grandparent isn’t there, but to ask any relevant questions directly to them. Be kind. It’s easy to become aggravated, frustrated, or just plain exhausted repeating yourself and others,shouting to be heard in public places or over blaringTVs and radios. Just remember your grandparent is probably experiencing fear, anger, frustration, and a host of other emotions because of their hearing loss, too. Denial is a very common response that requires your patience and understanding—albeit coupled with a firm refusal to enable it to continue. Ignoring hearing loss will not make it go away and in fact can be dangerous to overall health. Hearing loss has been linked to other conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, depression, and dementia and should be treated like any other potentially serious symptom. Offering to accompany your grandparent to their hearing evaluation,hearing aid fitting, and theirfollow-up visits is the nicest way to demonstrate your love and support.
Dr. Jennifer Gehlen received her undergraduate and graduate degrees including her Masters and Au.D. from the University of Florida. She has previously worked for Siemens in the roles of staff audiologist providing manufacturing and customer support and as a training consultant. She has practiced audiology in a variety of clinic and hospital settings in northern California and in Florida in the Tampa Bay area over the past 18 years. As an Educational Specialist, she provides training to staff and customers on Siemens technology, services, and software.
www.livingwellmagazine.net
November 2013
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