Hearing loss is one of the most common health problems affecting seniors. Approximately, one in three people between the age of 65 and 74 will start to experience hearing loss signs and symptoms, and nearly half of seniors older than 75 have difficulty hearing.

Hearing impairment, aside from making it harder for seniors to communicate well with others, also makes it more difficult for them to understand & follow doctor’s advice or respond to warnings, doorbells, and alarms. If left ignored or untreated, hearing loss can cause great stress to seniors, and may lead to depression and social isolation.

Taking care of seniors is hard work, especially when they are suffering from a health problem like hearing loss. Here are some of the tips from Home Instead Senior Care Outer East that you could apply immediately to communicate more effectively with seniors with hearing impairment:

• When you are speaking to them, try keeping it succinct at a slow or normal pace, enunciating each word as clear as possible.
• Always face the person you are talking to, the closer the better. This way, they can watch your faces move and see your expressions, which may help them to understand you better.
• Speak in low tones as the higher ranges are harder to hear.
• Avoid shouting to a person who has hearing impairment. It will be hard to fight back the urge, but shouting really doesn’t help to improve the situation.
• Point or gesticulate if that helps to make what you trying to say clearer.
• Turn down/off background noise or move away from places with competing sounds.
• Allow time for what you say to “sink in” – the senior may take time to wonder if they heard you right.
• If your senior wears a hearing aid, always make sure it’s on and working properly. Remember to do a batteries check regularly.
• Never talk down to a senior with hearing loss. Just because they have the possibility of going deaf, doesn’t mean they are losing all their faculties.
• Always speak directly to the senior, not to someone else who may be present. If they do hear you speaking to others about what they can respond themselves, they will feel inadequate.

Working together with your seniors to help them hear better may be tough on everyone for a while. However, it’s worth it to maintain your patience and help your seniors overcome this problem and enjoy a fulfilled life until the end.

Should you have any problem taking care of your seniors, or want to know more about taking care of seniors with hearing loss, contact one of our friendly staffs at Home Instead Senior Care Outer East now by calling 03 9754 4861.

Thanks for reading through this Blog, I hope you have found it useful. If you require any further assistance please feel free to contact the office.

Kind regards,

Suzanne McLoughlin
Owner of Home Instead Senior Care Outer East

P.S. We provide free Care Consultations and resource guides to support and guide families. Download your free copies from our Aged Care Resources page or Request a Free Information Pack to receive a hard copy.