Louise Stewart: Have patience when encouraging a loved one to take a hearing assessment
It is natural that you should want to help a loved one who has issues with their hearing in order to improve the quality of their lives, but it isn’t always easy.
Often, the person with the hearing loss is the last one to know because it develops gradually or they can be in denial for various reasons, including a fear of looking older or an outdated stigma around hearing aids.
As a qualified senior audiologist at House of Hearing, I have seen people struggling to cope with an undiagnosed or untreated hearing issue for up to ten years before they access a hearing assessment.
The best way to preserve and improve your hearing is to have an assessment as soon as possible.
With more than 5 per cent of the world’s population living with hearing loss, according to the World Health Organisation, hearing assessments are very common and very straightforward.
Untreated hearing loss also has a significant impact on our human relationships, with family and friends becoming frustrated if a loved one cannot communicate effectively.
There is also evidence that untreated hearing loss puts you in greater danger of developing cognitive issues, such as dementia, earlier.
People with untreated hearing issues find it difficult to hear clearly in noisy places, such as restaurants and pubs, and in turn can become withdrawn, lonely and isolated.
It can be hard to see a loved one no longer embracing life, but there are ways you can support them.
Look out for the signs, which usually begin with not being able to hear conversation clearly, particularly when there are other noises in the background. Also pay attention to the TV perhaps being turned up louder or a loved one asking you to repeat yourself more often, or if you are being accused of mumbling or not speaking clearly.
To encourage a hearing assessment, approach the subject with them in a quiet place and always advise them to attend a dedicated hearing clinic and to be seen by a fully-qualified registered audiologist.
We often don’t realise our hearing is deteriorating so, when asked about it, we might become defensive. Therefore be patient when broaching the subject and let your loved one know that you are there to support them.
Modern, discreet digital hearing aids can perform a number of functions in addition to enabling users to hear more clearly.
Hearing aids can even stream directly from a mobile phone or smart TV and are programmable to suit different environments.
Professional audiologists at the House of Hearing, with clinics in Edinburgh, Galashiels, Morpeth, Perth and St Andrews, have been carrying out hearing assessments for 50 years. They are free and are the most comprehensive hearing health check available.
It is always an emotional experience to see the joy in someone’s face as they hear the simple sounds of daily life again – they are no longer just getting by but enjoying life fully.
While it may be hard to do, encourage your loved ones to consider a hearing assessment, knowing you are trying to help them gain back their quality of life.
At this time when our NHS is under considerable pressure and in accordance with updated government guidelines our Edinburgh clinic remains open for urgent appointments only. This includes requests for batteries and accessories whether you’re an existing patient, an NHS patient or from another provider.
For further details, or to book an urgent appointment, call 0131 220 1220 or visit houseofhearing.co.uk