Hearing loss is the most common problem that most senior parents often face. As they age, they’re likely to develop a wide range of health problems, and hearing loss is one of them.
According to statistics, approximately 33% of people between the age of 65-74 experience hearing loss problems to some degree. Moreover, nearly 50% of individuals older than 75 years have difficulty hearing, indicating that this problem can escalate with advancing age.
Hearing problems in your senior parents are a part of aging. Now, you might be wondering, “How can I support my senior parents?” “What steps should I take to make their life better as much as possible?” Well, we’ve got all the answers you’re looking for.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the ways you can help your parents with hearing impairments. So, let’s dive in:
1.Understand the Problem
Before diving into the solutions, it is important to understand the problem your senior parents are going through. This step is extremely important because hearing loss is a complex issue that comes with various types and causes.
Understanding what are the causes and what type of hearing loss your parents are suffering from can help you plan better for them. Besides understanding the problem, it is crucial to understand their challenges, fears, and emotions.
Speak openly with them about their experiences, allowing them to express their feelings. Your empathy forms the foundation upon which all other forms of assistance are built.
2.Speak Face to Face
Now, here comes the most challenging part – communicating with your senior parents. However, communicating with them is not as hard as it may seem. There are simple and effective communication strategies that you can implement to communicate with them easily.
First of all, make sure to communicate with them face-to-face. Lip movements, hand gestures, and facial expressions can help them better understand what you’re saying. Secondly, when communicating with them, try to eliminate the background noise as much as possible. It means turning off the TV while at home or not playing the radio while driving.
This simple adjustment can significantly improve their communication experience, making interactions more simple and understandable for them.
3.Encourage Them to Wear Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are truly a game-changer for senior parents with hearing problems. Unfortunately, most parents often neglect the importance of hearing aids, and if they do have them, they don’t wear them. Some people also feel embarrassed to wear them in public.
But that shouldn’t be the case. You’ve to convince your parents to wear hearing aids. And you can do this by making them understand their problem and how hearing aids can make a big difference in their lives. Express your concern for their safety, and most importantly, don’t be rude to them.
However, another challenge is to find the right hearing aids for your parents. You’ll see tons of ads on TV or in magazines, and most of them often overpromise and under-deliver. So, we’ll recommend you Find the best in the ear hearing aids online for your parents. Look for the ones with durability and clear sound quality.
Remember, your parents will take some time to adjust to these hearing aids. So, it is important to be patient.
4.Keep Them Active
When your parents have hearing problems, they’re more likely to isolate themselves in their home. While it is common in most individuals, doing so won’t help them in any way. It can even lead to loneliness, depression, and anxiety.
So, we would advise you to encourage physical activities to keep your mind and body sharp and active. For example, you can encourage them to practice yoga and meditation daily for at least 25-30 minutes. It will help their mind and body to relax and rejuvenate. Also, you can encourage them to do some gardening, which will keep them physically and mentally active.
Moreover, there are other hobbies for people with hearing problems, like reading, photography, quilting, arts and crafts, and more, which you can encourage them to do. Besides these activities and hobbies, it is also important to promote social engagement.
Help them find local support groups or senior centers where they can connect with others who are experiencing similar challenges. Social interactions can boost their confidence and provide emotional support.
Summing Up
Helping senior parents cope with hearing loss requires empathy, patience, and understanding.
With the tips mentioned above, you can significantly enhance their quality of life. Moreover, encouraging lip reading and sign language, going for regular hearing check-ups, creating a hearing-friendly environment, and being patient are some other ways to help your parents.
The post How to Help Senior Parents With Hearing Loss? appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.
