When a senior citizen experiences hearing loss, they may be tempted to withdraw into themselves and cut off from engaging with others. If they can’t hear well, they can misunderstand what people are saying, causing confusion and embarrassment. It can affect relationships, diminish confidence and negatively impact the quality of life. But if you are living with hearing loss, there is no need to isolate yourself and feel alone or ashamed. Hearing loss is one of the most common challenges that seniors face as they age, and there are steps you can take to alleviate the challenges and maintain independence.
4 Tips to Hearing Loss Independence
If you live with a loss of hearing, the primary step is to schedule an appointment with your doctor. A physician can assess the level of hearing loss, determine if a hearing aid can be prescribed to counteract the problem, or refer you for more testing if a hearing aid is not appropriate for your condition. You can’t begin to monitor and manage hearing loss without an initial evaluation and diagnosis. Once you have the medical direction you need, try these tips to help you live more successfully and independently with hearing loss.
- Write It Down: Miscommunication is one of the most common frustrations associated with hearing loss. When you are elderly, even a small error can cause a huge inconvenience. For instance, if you can’t quite hear your GPS on your way to a new location, you could get lost or delayed; or if you misunderstood the time of your grandchild’s birthday party, you could arrive too late. The easiest way to deal with miscommunication is to write things down or to get things in writing – for instance, have your doctors, children, or friends send any dates, times, or instructions over text or email so that you can read them without error. You can also set up a whiteboard or chalkboard in your home so people can write things down for your easy reference.
- Upgrade Security and Safety: For those individuals who live at home alone, it is easy to feel vulnerable in the best of circumstances. However, without being able to hear, you can feel especially isolated. You can lose peace of mind, which is why you should look into retrofitting the home with updated safety features. Consider a security system that will immediately alert the authorities if there is any suspicious activity, even if you are unaware of it. Therefore if someone breaks a window or opens a door and doesn’t hear it, you can still be protected. Smoke and fire alarms are far less effective if individuals have hearing loss, but special modifications are available – from strobe lights to attachments that will shake your bed if an alarm goes off when you are sleeping. Not only will the senior feel more comfortable, but the family is more likely to agree to the senior continuing to be independent if they know they are safe.
- Think Differently About Communication: One of the main components necessary for maintaining independence is keeping the lines of communication open. Loved ones want to stay in touch and are likely to grow very concerned if they cannot reach their friend or family member easily. However, someone with hearing loss may frequently miss calls on a regular phone. Therefore seniors should contact the Hearing Loss Association of America for their list of alternatives and options for cell phones and landlines.
- Learn to Lipread / Sign: Learning to lipread will provide a senior with a new way to keep communication active during hearing loss. When someone can read lips, they can return to normal conversation with their friends and family, with far less fear of not understanding what is being said around them. If you cannot find or access lip-reading classes locally, check out online resources. You may also wish to learn basic sign language and ask your family to do the same. You don’t have to learn a full vocabulary – just enough to communicate important details.
Another way to maintain independence safely and securely is to choose an assisted living facility for residence. Seniors can live as independent a lifestyle as appropriate while having the security of full-time staff and a facility full of friends to look out for them. A Banyan Residence is a professional assisted living and memory care center in Venice, Florida.
