At its core, Thanksgiving revolves around eating together, family members, and talking. But when a loved one is experiencing hearing loss, they might feel out of touch at the mealtime gathering, even in the company of people who care.
A holiday gathering, despite its formality, provides a perfectly supportive setting to initiate a dialogue about their hearing health.
Why Thanksgiving is a perfect time for this conversation
It’s around the dinner table that personal stories are shared, laughter is sparked, and life updates are communicated. Unfortunately, for individuals whose hearing loss is untreated, this setting often proves to be challenging and isolating. If you observe a relative withdrawing from the discussion, often requesting repetition, or not hearing correctly, Thanksgiving is the right time to express your concern with empathy and kindness.
The benefit? The people they trust most are there, making it more straightforward for them to feel encouraged rather than criticized.
How to ready the environment to facilitate easier speaking
Before initiating the talk, small changes to your environment can make a noticeable improvement for your loved one’s ease and confidence during the gathering:
- Minimize background noise. Turn down background noise by keeping the TV or music volume low to lessen auditory distractions.
- When seating, be mindful. Seat your loved one centrally or with the people they interact with best.
- Ensure good lighting, as well-lit areas allow people with hearing loss to more easily observe lip and facial 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 be associated with discussing health topics.
A guide to raising the topic sensitively and avoiding discomfort
The key to a constructive conversation is approaching it from a place of care, not correction. Do not make the talk sound like a demand for immediate action or correction. Rather, gently mention that you’ve seen signs of hearing difficulty and that your goal is to help, not pass judgment.
“It’s wonderful that we are together today, and I hope you are enjoying every moment. I’ve noticed you struggle to hear at times. Has getting your hearing tested crossed your mind?”
Provide space to talk and share their thoughts. It’s possible they will feel relief that the issue has been acknowledged, or they might simply dismiss it. Either way, don’t push. Just offer your support and plan to discuss it again another time if necessary.
Providing support and information for the next move
If your loved one is willing to consider the idea of exploring solutions, be ready with a few helpful, non-intimidating options:
- Bring up hearing evaluations. Let them know that a hearing test is simple and non-invasive.
- Normalize the idea 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.
The goal isn’t to solve everything in one conversation. It’s to plant a beginning of support that can develop.
How this holiday of gratitude can be a step towards improved hearing
Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful for the people we love, and sometimes that means having meaningful conversations that lead to a better quality of life. Though bringing up hearing loss initially causes discomfort, discussing it in a supportive, familiar place can make your loved one feel supported, recognized, and motivated to act.
This Thanksgiving, if a person you care for is struggling with hearing difficulties, consider starting the discussion. It might just lead to a life-changing difference.