Seniors Health 2006-09/hearing

My spouse has a hearing impairment, what can I do to help? Seniors Choice Newsmagazine, September 2006 If you are a senior, there is a very good chance that you regularly converse with someone close to you who has difficulty with their hearing. They may realize that they have a problem or they may be completely unaware of what they are missing. Regardless, it can be a very frustrating experience for both them as well as for you. Obviously, the first thing that you can do is to encourage them to get their hearing tested at a local hearing clinic. There are many competent clinicians in the Okanagan who can perform a hearing assessment. There are also some practical things that you can do to help communicate to that person. The following is a list of various tips that will assist you when talking with your spouse or friend: · Firstly, always make sure that you get the person's attention before you start talking to them. This will ensure that they are focused on hearing what you have to say. · Ensure that you are facing him/her and that they have full view of your whole face. Lip reading is extremely important for anyone with any degree of hearing loss. While most of us are unaware that we do it, all of us utilize it on occasion (even those of us with normal hearing). Make sure that any beards or mustaches are trimmed, do not smoke, do not chew gum, and do not cover any part of your face. · Stay within 5 to 7 feet. Please do not try to ask them a question while you are sticking your head in the refrigerator, or off in a different part of the house. You are just asking for trouble. · Speak normally, clearly, and relatively slowly. You don't need to shout and you don't need to exaggerate your words. · Important things should always be written down (ie. instructions, appointments). · Make sure that all background noise is kept to a minimum. Background is one of the biggest obstacles hearing impaired individuals have. If you can make sure the TV or radio is off or on 'mute,' and close windows that let in too much noise. When you go out for dinner, try to choose a restaurant that is relatively quiet, ask to sit in a booth along the side of the restaurant (noise levels are typically higher in the middle of the room), and try to go out just before or after the busier times. · When you are repeating yourself to them, try to choose different words that mean the same thing. For example, if they did not understand the word "dinner" you can rephrase what you said using the word "supper" instead. If they had a hard time hearing the word "dinner" the first time you said it, they will likely have a hard time hearing it the second time you say it. · Be sure that he or she understands important items. Ask him/her to repeat them. DO NOT RELY ON A NOD. Hard of hearing people get tired of asking people to repeat themselves and can get quite self-conscious about doing so. After a while they tend to 'fake it.' · Lastly, be patient! As frustrating as it is for you, it is just as frustrating for your friend/spouse. While incorporating these ideas will certainly not fix all communication problems between yourself and your hearing impaired friend/spouse, it will allow for easier and more effective conversation. It will also show that you care for them and that you understand the difficulties that they are going through. If you have any hearing-related questions please send them to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or submit them directly to me at either of my offices. Colin VanBergen is a clinical audiologist, and manages both the Kelowna and Westbank offices of the Okanagan Hearing Clinic.

 

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