Do any of the following illustrative stories ring true with you? For years, my grandmother sat quietly at family gatherings, a vague smile on her face, not taking part in the boisterous holiday atmosphere.
It wasn’t because she was cold or reserved. It was because, with her hearing loss, it was too hard for her to understand the conversations around her. She was too embarrassed to ask anyone for help or to visit an audiologist and never sought help for her hearing problem.
My uncle faced similar hearing issues as he entered middle age. After watching the isolation that his mother suffered, he decided to take action and speak with hearing specialists. After performing a hearing test, they gave him a quality hearing aid.
The difference was astounding. He said that, with the help of his hearing aid, he could hear better than he had for years.
Dealing with the hearing loss that comes with age can be daunting. Many people do not realize how hearing aid technology has advanced, and do not know what these devices can accomplish.
If you have an elderly loved who is becoming hard of hearing, let them know that you are willing to take them to an audiologist, who is a hearing aid specialist to explore their options.
If your loved one is hesitant to seek help with their hearing problem, urge them to see a hearing aid specialist. They can get hearing aid advice that will help them be part of the conversation again.