Untreated hearing loss can have a devastating effect on your life. You’ll have a hard time keeping up with conversations, and you may start to notice that your relationships aren’t as strong as they used to be. But you can get your hearing back. This month we’re celebrating Better Hearing and Speech Month! Join us and find out how hearing aids can help you build connections with your family and friends.
For more than 90 years, professionals around the country celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month every May. This event is organized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The month of May is a time when we raise awareness about communication disorders, or any other concerns that can make it harder to communicate with loved ones. The theme for 2021 in Building Connections, and we want you to know how hearing aids can improve your relationships.
Hearing Loss and Communication
If you or a loved one has hearing loss, you’ve seen firsthand how hearing loss affects communication. Someone with hearing loss has a hard time following conversations. They might miss the point of the story or the punchline of the joke. And when it comes to more important discussions, hearing loss can lead to more serious miscommunication and frustration.
Hearing loss makes it especially challenging to hear speech. It’s not that your loved one can’t hear the words, it’s that the words don’t make sense. That’s because hearing loss often affects high-pitched sounds first. Certain consonant sounds, like “th”, “ch”, “p”, or “b” are harder to hear and harder to differentiate. This makes conversations a lot more frustrating for everyone.
Social Avoidance
Having conversations is one of the main ways we socialize. Whether it’s a quiet conversation with a loved one or dinner with friends, conversations are a big part of every social interaction. When your loved one has hearing loss, communication breaks down and it’s harder to maintain connections.
People with hearing loss often start to avoid social gatherings. They might choose to stay home rather than join their family and friends. They might stop answering the phone, or be less willing to have conversations with loved ones. This withdrawal is a sign that hearing loss is coming between you and your loved one, and it’s time to do something about it.
Talk to Your Loved One About Hearing Loss
If your loved one is avoiding conversations, seems lonely, and is struggling with anxiety or depression, you need to talk to your loved one about hearing loss. This might be a sensitive subject, so make sure your loved one feels safe. Don’t make them feel defensive, but show them that you’re on the same team. You can talk about Better Hearing and Speech Month, and the importance of communication of building connections.
Let your loved one know that their hearing loss is affecting you too, and that you sometimes feel sad and alone. Ask them how hearing loss makes them feel, and be open if they tell you they feel frustrated or worried. Together you can work towards a solution, and you can support your loved one in this process.
Treating Hearing Loss with Hearing Aids
Is your loved one ready to get hearing aids? Hearing devices come in all shapes and sizes, and a number of different price points to match every budget. They’re designed to balance background noises and help you focus on the sounds you want to hear. Hearing aids have advanced programs and features that help you hear in a range of listening settings. Hearing aids can include speech enhancement programs, automatic setting adjustments, and even connectivity features that let you stream audio from your smartphone directly to your hearing aids.
Schedule a Hearing Test
Book a hearing test today and let us help you find the best solution for your lifestyle and hearing needs. We’ll give you several options to choose from, and empower you to make the right decision for your hearing health.
Join us this month and celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month! You’ll be amazed at the difference hearing aids can make in your life. Find out how a quality pair of hearing aids can help you build strong connections with your loved ones.