In 1951, the United Nations created the World Federation of the Deaf, an organization whose mission is to raise awareness about hearing loss and its effects.
The federation celebrates its 62nd anniversary on Sept. 23, which also marks the launch of this year’s International Week of the Deaf. The theme this year is intended to move society closer toward equality for those who have hearing loss.
As part of building awareness of the cause, International Week of the Deaf includes telling stories of hearing loss and how it can cause social problems for those who deal with the condition.
Along with notions of anxiety and shame, people who have hearing loss can experience depression and alienation. If you have friends or loved ones with hearing loss, you will want to make sure you know how to communicate with them—and how they can communicate with you.
It not only shows your concern, it helps your family members and friends stay connected to the people and sounds they love.
Here are five tips for communicating with people with hearing loss.
Be Direct
Not putting it off is the best way to deal with any situation when it comes to the healthcare of someone you care deeply about. Tell the person you have noticed a slip in hearing and then go through the steps that can help him or her deal with the issue, including receiving a free hearing test.
Stay Aware of your Physical Location
Often, when someone is suffering from hearing loss, those who notice this condition learn to address the person while standing in front of him or her and from a short distance away, rather than across the room or from behind.
Staying in front of the person you are speaking to will help him or her read your lips and body language to understand what you are saying.
This kind of subtle change in your own behaviour can help the other person realize that he or she has a hearing issue. Seeing you make the effort to work around their hearing loss might be enough to convince your loved ones to seek treatment.
Be Empathetic
If your loved one is in denial about hearing loss, you will need to inform him or her of your concern calmly and with carefully chosen words.
It is also helpful to quote statistics that help your loved ones know they are far from alone. More than 7 million Canadians suffer from hearing loss, and while it is a condition that may indicate aging, it is not one to be ashamed of.
According to global estimates released this year by the World Health Organization, over 5 percent of the world’s population (360 million people) have disabling hearing loss.
Emphasize the Positive
Devices used to treat hearing damage are not at all what they were decades ago. Today’s devices are small, light, and attractive.
Approaching the need for a hearing aid or other listening device is really no different from being fitted for a pair of prescription glasses. Putting hearing loss in that context could help your loved one understand that the condition is commonplace and can be addressed through technology and treatment.
Remember to Smile
When people are self-conscious, they are more likely to feel that people around them are unhappy with them.
People who suffer from hearing loss can feel they are a burden because their friends and family are not understanding them or are constantly asking them to repeat themselves. A friendly smile will help put them at ease.
MJ DeSousa, an audiologist and director of Professional Practice at Connect Hearing, leads a team of hearing professionals across Canada. For more information about hearing health please visit www.connecthearing.ca.
