Thanksgiving is all about food, kin, and discussion. When someone you care about copes with hearing loss, they may feel isolated at the dinner table, regardless of the loving family around them.
A holiday gathering, despite its formality, provides a gentle and appropriate setting to initiate a dialogue about one’s hearing health.
The Reasons Thanksgiving Provides a Suitable Time for This Talk
Mealtimes are when family members recount stories, tell humorous anecdotes, and catch up on news. However, for a person with untreated hearing loss, this scene can quickly become a source of frustration and isolation. Thanksgiving is an opportune moment to gently voice your concerns and offer support if you’ve observed a loved one shying away from conversation, often asking others to repeat themselves, or misinterpreting what is said.
Because those they trust most are present, the individual is more likely to feel a sense of encouragement and less like they are being corrected.
How to ready the environment to enable easier speaking
Making a few simple environmental changes before the conversation can significantly help your loved one’s confidence and comfort throughout the gathering.
- Lower background noise. Keep background noise to a minimum; this means keeping the TV or music volume low.
- Be mindful of where you place them. Seat your loved one near the table’s center or close to family members they easily converse with.
- Use ample light. Areas with good light make it easier for someone with hearing loss to see facial expressions and lip movements.
- Inform close relatives in a quiet way that you plan to discuss the topic supportively so they can offer empathetic support.
Executing these simple changes helps alleviate communication difficulties and lessens any emotional stress associated with discussing health.
Methods to raise this topic without causing offense
The focus of a productive discussion should be on care and support, not on correction. Try not to make the talk sound like a demand for immediate action or correction. Rather, gently mention that you’ve seen signs of hearing difficulty and that your goal is to help, not pass judgment.
“I appreciate us spending time together, and my hope is that you can fully participate. It seems like you have trouble catching everything sometimes. Have you considered scheduling a hearing evaluation?”
Allow them to speak and offer a response. They may feel relief that someone noticed, or they may brush it off. Whatever their answer, avoid pushing the matter. Just offer your support and plan to discuss it again later if necessary.
Offering support and resources
When your loved one is open to seeking solutions, be ready to offer some helpful, gentle suggestions:
- Mention hearing evaluations. Let them know that a hearing test is easy and non-invasive.
- Help them see by comparing hearing aids to glasses; both are tools that improve quality of life without negative stigma.
- Emphasize the benefits. Better hearing can strengthen relationships, lower stress, and increase confidence.
It is not the purpose to solve all the issues during this initial discussion. The purpose is to plant the initial seed of support that can mature over time.
Thanksgiving: A time for thanks and a move to improved hearing
The spirit of Thanksgiving is centered on being grateful for our loved ones, and this sometimes involves having necessary discussions that ultimately improve their lives. While discussing hearing loss can be initially uncomfortable, addressing it in a familiar, warm environment helps your loved one feel seen, supported, and ready for action.
If someone you care about is struggling with hearing, consider starting the conversation this Thanksgiving. It might just lead to a transformative difference.
