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Friends&Relations – The other type of “hearing aid” By Alison King, Paediatric Policy There are many ways to help a person with hearing loss participate more fully in life. Here are a few suggestions. and Program Manager Hearing impairment isn’t just a hearing issue, it’s also a communication problem. Communication is a two-way process so a hearing loss not only affects the hearing impaired individual, it also affects those around them – their family, friends and colleagues. But there are ways to make a difference in the life of a hearing impaired loved one. Understandably, hearing loss can be quite isolating. Often the hearing impaired person finds it too hard to follow even a simple conversation. Perhaps they feel embarrassed when they grasp the “wrong end of the stick” in a conversation. Or they may be worried they’re a nuisance when they ask for things to be repeated. As a result, they may withdraw from hobbies or avoid activities because these become too stressful or unrewarding. We also shouldn’t overlook the effect hearing loss might have upon the friends and family of the hearing impaired. Yes, there may be frustration when they constantly hear “Beg-yourpardon?”. Or they may be embarrassed at having to correct some social gaff. Hearing loss also gets in the way of grandparents hearing their grandchildren’s stories and makes it difficult for couples to share feelings and experiences that are so important for intimacy in a relationship. • The hearing assessment appointment can be a worrying experience for some people. Ask your friend or relative if they would like you to go along with them. It might simply be for moral support or it might be that two heads are better than one when it comes to remembering information and explanations or deciding which hearing aid might be best. • Using a hearing aid or upgrading to a new one can be quite complex at first. Some people find it helpful to have a friend come along to the appointment so they don’t have to worry about remembering every instruction and piece of information. If you can’t come to the fitting appointment, Australian Hearing provides some printed information that you can read later and discuss with your friend if they would like you to. • Learn about your friend’s hearing loss, the benefits and limitations of their hearing aids. Hearing aids make a big difference to the hearing impaired listener. Modern hearing aids provide clearer sound and deal much more efficiently with background noise than ever before. They won’t solve all problems, however, especially for those who have a severe or a profound hearing loss. Understanding the limitations of the technology can help you set realistic expectations about the user’s hearing ability. •A helping hand. Some of our clients find it difficult to manage their hearing aids independently, maybe because of low vision or arthritis. They may find it difficult to insert or adjust their aid. After all, our ears aren’t where our eyes can see them! Check whether your friend needs assistance with managing their hearing aid, especially when they are back at home. The audiologist will be able to give you both some helpful hints. •Become a communication trainer! When hearing aids alone don’t enable someone to hear as well as they want to, our adult specialist audiologists can provide communication training programs aimed at improving the person’s listening skills. The best results are achieved when our clients practice their newly learned skills outside the audiology appointment. So consider helping your friend or relation with their communication homework – it will make a big difference. • Practice good communication. Talk to the audiologist about the best way to communicate with your friend. Do they need to see your face in order to understand you? Where would be the best place for them to sit at the dinner table? Can they hear you talking when the TV is on? And remember, patience and a good sense of humour go a long way towards keeping communication channels open. 6 AustralianHearing
When the person with a hearing impairment is young… The diagnosis of childhood hearing impairment can have a profound effect on the family. Parents may experience grief, shock, anger or confusion when they are confronted with a host of unfamiliar issues and decisions about hearing aids and education. In fact, most families experience all of these emotions in varying degrees at different times throughout their child’s life. To help, recognise that your friend or relation may sometimes find the going tough, even if their child seems to be doing well. • Support your friend or relation in their choices for their child. For example, encourage the wearing of hearing aids if the child comes to stay with you. If it is offered, take the opportunity to learn more about the hearing loss and what it means for the child and their family. How much can the child hear? Does your friend or relation have therapy to do with the child at home? Perhaps their hearing centre or school is running an information seminar that you can attend. Australian Hearing produces material on a range of topics which we are happy to provide to family and friends. Please understand that we can’t provide information about a particular child without the parents’ consent. • Find out the best way to communicate with the child. How far away can they hear you? Should you get their attention before you talk to them? Should you simplify your language at all? Should you turn down background noise like the TV or radio when you want to talk to the child? Does the child also use sign language? If you can’t get to formal classes, perhaps there are some simple signs you can learn from their family. • The child or young person may value your support at an appointment at the hearing centre, or they may prefer to attend alone to discuss personal concerns with their audiologist. • Audiology appointments can be difficult for parents if they have to bring other children along as well. (Little brothers or sisters can be very distracting during a hearing test!) It can also be difficult for parents to remember everything discussed during the appointment if they are trying to keep an eye on several children at once. You could, therefore, offer to baby-sit young siblings. Or maybe it would help if you could look after the hearing impaired child in the waiting room to give your friend a chance to talk in more depth to the audiologist. And of course, baby-sitting at other times could give the parents much needed time out to do something for themselves. So remember, there are many things that family and friends can do to make life easier for the hearing impaired child or adult. All of them contribute in some small way to helping to reduce the impact of hearing loss on everyday life. And that is why we say that family and friends are the other very important type of hearing aid! Hear&Now 7
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