Thursday 7 August 2014

It's important to accompany a loved one to their hearing test

Having to live with an untreated hearing loss can be very difficult and a lonely experience. On top of finding it hard to listen and communicate, those who are hearing impaired often have to deal with increasingly frustrated family members and friends who are tired of repeating themselves. Personal relationships are adversely affected by hearing loss. Hearing impaired couples are hardest hit, but relations with friends, family and colleagues suffer, as well.

A British study among 1,500 individuals, aged 55 years and older, with hearing loss seemed to confirm that the presence of hearing loss is likely to cause marital strain. Almost one in two said that relationships with their partner, friends or family had suffered because they could not hear properly. A third had lost touch with friends, and in some cases marriages fell apart as a direct result of a breakdown in communication.
If you have a loved one hearing loss, it is important for you to be positive, supportive and committed to helping them improve their hearing.

One simple way you can support a family member who has hearing difficulties is accompanying them to their hearing test (instead of just losing your patience and badgering them to book one!) Here are four reasons why it is better to tackle the first hearing appointment as a team.

1. Solidarity and comfort
Most hearing evaluations last around 60 minutes or longer. Although there is nothing painful about having the hearing test carried out, it can still be a nerve-wracking experience – especially anticipating the results. Having a loved one there can ease anxiety and help the person with hearing loss feel less alone.

2. Better understanding of the results
It can often be confusing to understand the results of medical tests and their implications – especially when you can’t hear well or have other things on your mind. That’s why it’s nice to have a trusted friend or family member along who can take notes and ask appropriate questions while the audiologist interprets the findings.

3. Another view point
It’s not uncommon for family members to notice hearing loss in a loved one before they notice it themselves. It is very possible that a person with untreated hearing loss does not even realise how much they are missing. Bringing a family member to the initial hearing test will give the hearing clinician access to a different point of view, helping them to formulate the most accurate result possible.

4. Shared responsibility
Sometimes it is hard to make an important medical decision by yourself. When it comes to investing in a pair of hearing aids it’s a good idea to tackle key decisions, such as what type to purchase, what features would compliment their lifestyle and how much to spend, together.

It is also important that a family member is at the first appointment so they can be informed of their importance to their loved one’s hearing rehabilitation process. Persistent encouragement, a positive attitude and the implementation of communication strategies by family members will ultimately result in greater satisfaction for everyone. It really requires a family effort to get the most out of hearing aids.