Thanksgiving is all about food, relatives, and dialogue. But when a loved one is dealing with hearing loss, they might feel out of touch at the mealtime gathering, even surrounded by people who care.
While one might hesitate, a holiday setting is often an ideal, supportive time to begin a sensitive conversation about hearing health.
The Logic Behind Using Thanksgiving for a Hearing Health Conversation
It’s around the dinner table that personal stories are shared, laughter is sparked, and life updates are communicated. Regrettably, for individuals whose hearing loss is untreated, this setting often proves to be difficult and isolating. Thanksgiving is an ideal time to gently voice your concerns and offer support if you’ve seen a loved one shying away from conversation, often asking others to repeat themselves, or making more errors in hearing.
The major advantage is that their most trusted people are present, which helps them feel encouraged instead of criticized.
How to ready the environment to enable easier conversation
Making a few simple environmental changes before the conversation can vastly improve your loved one’s confidence and comfort during the gathering.
- Reduce background noise. Minimize distracting sounds; keep the volume of the television or music low to reduce auditory interference.
- When seating, be mindful. Seat your loved one centrally or with the people they speak with best.
- Adequate light is important because it assists someone with hearing loss in interpreting lip movements and facial expressions.
- Inform close relatives in a quiet way that you plan to discuss the topic supportively so they can offer empathetic support.
These simple steps can ease both the practical challenges of communication and the emotional difficulty of addressing health concerns.
How to approach the topic without causing discomfort
To ensure a positive outcome, approach the topic with care rather than a desire to correct or fix. Ensure the discussion does not become a directive demanding immediate change. Instead, gently express that you’ve noticed they seem to have struggled to hear and that you want to help, not criticize.
“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. Your loved one might express relief that the issue was addressed, or they might reject the idea outright. No matter what happens, avoid pushing the matter. Simply offer your support and plan to discuss it again another time if necessary.
What to offer: support and practical suggestions
If they seem willing to look into solutions, you should be prepared with some non-intimidating and helpful recommendations.
- Discuss hearing evaluations. Let them know that a hearing test is simple and non-invasive.
- Compare hearing aids to wearing eyeglasses to normalize the discussion—both devices enhance life quality free from stigma.
- Offer to join them for the appointment. The knowledge they won’t be alone can be the most impactful element.
- 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 grow.
How this season of gratitude can be a step towards healthier hearing
Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful for the people we love, and sometimes that means having important 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.
Consider this year’s Thanksgiving as the moment to start the conversation if you have a loved one dealing with hearing issues. It might just lead to a transformative difference.
