Tips for Communicating More Effectively with a Senior Who is Losing Their Hearing
Home Care in Berkeley Heights NJ
Hearing loss is one of the most common issues of aging, with approximately half of all people who reach the age of 75 facing some level of hearing loss. This does not mean, however, that your 
parent just has to “deal with it” or that you should not make this change a part of your care efforts for them. Helping your aging parent to overcome the challenges of new or worsened hearing loss helps them to stay more engaged in the world around them and can ward off feelings of depression or anxiety that can occur due to this loss.
One of the most important things that you can do when caring for a senior who has lost their hearing is to pay attention to how you are communicating with them. It is possible that your communication style is not effective in terms of reaching out to a senior who is having trouble hearing, and that this can prevent your care efforts from being as effective as they could be. Effective communication is essential to maintaining a close bond with your parent, as well as ensuring that your care efforts are as beneficial as possible.
Use these tips to help you communicate more effectively with a senior who is losing their hearing:
- Eliminate distractions. Avoid trying to have a conversation with your parent when you are also listening to music, watching television, or sitting in traffic. Establish as much quiet as possible to make it easier for your parent to hear you talking.
- Face them. Facing your parent is one of the most effective changes that you can make to you communication styles to help them engage with you while losing their hearing. Facing your parent helps your voice to go directly to them rather than getting “lost” in other areas of the room. This also enables your parent to see your face and use your body cues to give them more context in what you are saying to them.
- Be patient. You do not need to raise your voice to them or speak excessively slowly, but be patient when you are talking to your parent. Speak in a comfortable conversational pace and give your parent time to let you know if you need to increase the volume or repeat yourself.
- Emote effectively. Be very aware of how you are using your facial expressions and your body when you are talking with your loved one. Even if they do not realize that they are doing it, people use what they see on a person’s face and how they are holding their body to apply context and emotion to what a person is saying. When a person does not hear well, they rely on these cues even more. Pay close attention to what you are saying with your body and make sure that aligns with what you are saying with your words.
If your parent is suffering from hearing loss, consider hiring a home care provider to enhance their daily quality of life. This in home services provider can help your parent adapt to the changing environment of hearing loss and enable them to continue living the lifestyle that they desire by adapting activities and managing tasks for your loved one. They can also act as a source of reminders and support when it comes to using devices such as hearing aids so that your senior can get the most out of their adaptive device.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Care in Berkeley Heights, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.
Source: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing-loss-older-adults
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