Communicating with a senior loved one who has hearing loss or impairment can be frustrating for both of you and can lead to confusion and misunderstandings. Luckily, this can become more manageable if you follow a few simple tips.
Face Your Loved One when Speaking
When talking with your loved one, it may be helpful to look at him or her when you’re speaking. Generally, hearing impairment in seniors develops gradually, and your loved one’s other senses may start to compensate for the hearing loss. Because of this, your loved one may be able to understand you better by looking at you, reading your lips, and seeing your facial expressions.
Without consciously practicing lip reading or taking classes, your loved one might not be aware he or she has this skill. However, it could explain why your loved one often asks you to repeat yourself when he or she can’t see your face but can hear you well when looking at you. It’s good to play to this strength, whether it’s conscious or subconscious.
Hearing loss and other age-related conditions could make it challenging for your loved one to live alone at home safely. Every senior has different needs when aging in place. Some simply need occasional assistance with household chores, while others may be managing serious illnesses and require more extensive home care. Phoenix seniors can count on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide the in-home care they need and deserve.
Talk Slowly & Enunciate
While it isn’t necessary to speak extremely slowly, avoid speaking to your loved one too quickly. Speaking rapidly or rushing through what you want to say can overwhelm your loved one when he or she is trying to hear you and process the information you’re providing.
It’s important to pronounce each word crisply and clearly. Mumbling or slurring words together may make hearing and understanding more difficult for your loved one. It’s also important not to whisper or speak too softly. Speak at a volume that’s normal or slightly louder than normal for best results.
Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality Phoenix home care. Trust Assisting Hands Home Care to help your elderly loved one age in place safely and comfortably.
Choose a Quiet Place
Having a discussion with your loved one when there’s extraneous noise in the background can be frustrating for both of you. Though we learn to filter out unneeded noise so we can focus during active conversations, this skill becomes more difficult for older people. Multitasking becomes more challenging with age, and combining it with hearing loss can make trying to understand a conversation overwhelming. Choose a location with no ambient noise and block off distractions by shutting the door or letting other people know you need to have quiet time to talk.
Phrase Your Words Differently
Try using different words to explain what you mean if your loved one asks you to repeat yourself. Sometimes a senior’s difficulty in understanding is caused by the words being used. Perhaps something about particular words or sounds makes it difficult for your loved one to hear, or maybe the phrasing combined with the hearing loss is a problem. Instead, try to rephrase what you’re saying using synonyms and a different order of words.
Hearing impairment can have negative effects on an aging adult’s overall health and wellbeing. If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of in-home care Phoenix families can rely on. To learn about our high-quality home care options, give us a call at 602-847-6549 today.
