Whether your elderly family member realizes that she’s losing her hearing or not it can have a significant impact on her ability to interact with people around her.
Let People Know She Has Trouble Hearing
There may be people who encounter your senior who don’t realize that she has trouble hearing them. She may not be able to let them know herself, especially if she’s not aware that they’re trying to talk to her. You can help by letting them know she has difficulty hearing and that patience will help a lot.
Make Sure to Gain Eye Contact Before Speaking to Her
When you talk to your senior, make sure that you have eye contact with her before you try to say anything. This lets her know that you’re trying to talk to her and she may be able to read your lips. This is also helpful when other people are trying to talk to your senior, because you can help her to know what they’re trying to communicate.
Encourage People to Enunciate Rather than Shout
One of the biggest problems that aging adults encounter around hearing issues is that people believe that shouting helps. It really doesn’t, because it distorts the sounds and makes it more difficult to deduce what’s being said. If people are able to speak more clearly, however, that can definitely be helpful.
Try to Reduce Background Noise
Often background noise is a huge hindrance to your senior being able to hear anything that’s going on around her. If it’s possible for you to control that background noise at all, say by turning off a television or radio, that can be incredibly helpful. Background noises can blend in with the voices of people in the room, making it impossible for your senior to make out what’s being said.
Keep a Pen and Paper Handy When it’s Loud
When you aren’t able to control background noise, it might be a good idea to keep pen and paper handy. That way you can write down what you’re trying to say to your senior and she can write her response as well. Smartphones with note apps can also serve the same purpose.
It can be difficult for your elderly family member to deal with the world when she has trouble hearing. If you can’t be there with her, then having elder care providers available can be a huge help.
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring elder care in Saratoga, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers today (408) 317-4969.