At its core, Thanksgiving revolves around eating together, loved ones, and talking. When someone you care about copes with hearing loss, they may perceive themselves as isolated at the dinner table, regardless of the loving family present.
Although it feels counterintuitive to bring up such a personal topic, a holiday event can offer a gentle and supportive chance to start a discussion regarding hearing health.
The Rationale Behind Using Thanksgiving for a Hearing Health Chat
Mealtimes are when family members recount stories, tell humorous anecdotes, and catch up on news. Yet, for a person with untreated hearing loss, this scene can quickly become a source of frustration and isolation. Thanksgiving is an ideal time to gently voice your concerns and offer support if you’ve seen a loved one shying away from conversation, often asking others to repeat themselves, or misinterpreting what is said.
Because those they trust most are present, the individual is more likely to feel a sense of encouragement and less like they are being corrected.
Steps to modify the environment for less challenging talking
Making a few simple environmental changes before the conversation can vastly improve your loved one’s confidence and comfort during the gathering.
- Minimize background noise. Minimize distracting sounds; keep the volume of the television or music low to reduce auditory interference.
- Give careful thought to seating arrangements. Position the loved one centrally or beside those they find easiest to talk with.
- Use bright illumination. Well-lit spaces make it less straining for someone with hearing loss to see facial expressions and lip movements.
- Discreetly communicate your intentions to close family, letting them know you want to discuss the topic supportively, ensuring they can offer empathetic backup.
These simple adjustments help ease both communication challenges and any emotional tension that may arise from discussing health topics.
A guide to raising the topic sensitively and avoiding discomfort
The key to a helpful conversation is approaching it from a place of care, not correction. Ensure the discussion does not become a directive demanding immediate change. Rather, gently mention that you’ve seen signs of hearing difficulty and that your goal is to help, not pass judgment.
“I love that we’re all together today, and I want to make sure you can enjoy it fully. I’ve noticed it’s sometimes hard for you to hear everything that’s going on. Have you thought about having your hearing checked?”
Encourage them to speak and give them adequate time to reply. They may feel relief that someone noticed, or they may brush it off. No matter what happens, avoid pushing the matter. Simply offer your support and plan to discuss it again another time if necessary.
What to offer: support and practical resources
If they seem willing to look into solutions, you should be prepared with some non-intimidating and helpful recommendations.
- Discuss hearing evaluations, clarifying that a hearing test is an easy and non-invasive procedure.
- Help them see by comparing hearing aids to glasses; both are tools that improve quality of life without negative stigma.
- Better hearing can lead to better relationships, decreased stress, and enhanced confidence, so be sure to emphasize these benefits.
Your objective is not to fix everything right away in this one conversation. It’s to plant a beginning of support that can flourish.
How this season of gratitude can be a step towards improved hearing
Thanksgiving time is centered on being grateful for our loved ones, and this sometimes involves having necessary discussions that ultimately improve their lives. While discussing hearing loss can be initially uncomfortable, addressing it in a familiar, warm environment helps your loved one feel seen, supported, and ready for action.
This Thanksgiving, if a person you care for is struggling with hearing difficulties, consider starting the discussion. This simple step could lead to a significant difference in their life.