Hearing Loss - Guidance for Family and Friends

HEARING LOSS GUIDANCE FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SPOTTING THE EARLY SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS For most people, hearing loss happens slowly - so slowly in fact that it's hard for them to notice it deteriorate at all. Indeed, you may realise someone has signs of hearing loss before they realise themselves. Here are some early signs to look out for: Turning the volume up on the TV Regularly misunderstanding conversation WHAT?I? If someone in your life is resorting to turning the volume up for no apparent reason, it could be an indicator that they're struggling with some level of hearing loss. In the same way our vision can become blurred, so can our hearing. While it's rare not to hear people at all, your friend or loved one may be struggling to hear you clearly. Often avoiding social situations Regularly feeling tired or stressed frritm a With increased background noise, social gatherings can be tricky for someone starting to experience hearing loss. As such, you may notice them avoiding these situations. Listening with a hearing loss is hard work and requires concentration. For that reason, some people find they tire easily during conversations and often become stressed. NEXT STEPS FOR YOUR FRIEND OR LOVED ONE It is of course a sensitive subject, but if you think someone is suffering from hearing loss, try to support them and point them in the direction of someone that can help. There are three main options for your friend or loved one: Talk to a Hearing Aid Audiologist Talk to their GP Do nothing at all A qualified Hearing Aid Audiologist registered with the Health Professions Council will Ultimately, your friend or loved one has the right to decide what's best for them, and they Their doctor will be able to discuss their hearing loss with them and refer them offer advice on improving their hearing loss. They will always advise where hearing can be improved without a hearing aid. to their local hospital's audiology department or a specialist hearing care provider where appropriate. may choose not to act at all. You can only advise speaking to somebody, and inform them of the dangers of not acting. HOW TO HELP SOMEONE WITH HEARING LOSS There are a number of communication tactics that you can use to help the person you suspect has a hearing loss. While these cannot replace the benefits of seeking help from a specialist, they should go some way to making communication a little easier. When it comes to communicating with somebody who has a hearing loss, follow these seven simple rules: Set the scene; a well lit place with little to no background noise is always a better place for an important conversation Keep face to face (eye to eye contact even better) throughout the conversation Focus on speaking very clearly when you're talking rather than speaking slowly, which most people tend to focus on Use a natural facial expression and natural gestures; don't exaggerate or be theatrical when you're talking Don't shout. A hearing loss can also lead to an increased sensitivity to loud noises - so focus on speaking clearer rather than louder If someone can't understand what you're saying (sometimes the case in noisy situations), don't keep repeating yourself. Simply find another way to explain Make sure you have the person's full attention before asking a question. It helps greatly if you start your question with their name DID YOU KNOW... Many people don't realise just how big a problem hearing loss has become in the UK - here are some rather shocking facts and figures around hearing loss in the United Kingdom: Number of people in the UK with some form of hearing loss MORE THAN 10 MILLION PEOPLE One in six of the UK population suffers from some form of hearing loss - that's more than 10 million people altogether. Percentage of older people with some form of hearing loss Over 70 years old Under 50 Over 50 years old years old Most of the ten million people in the UK with hearing loss developed it as they got older. Age-related damage to the cochlea is the single biggest cause of hearing loss: 71.1% of over 70 year olds and 41.7% of over 50 year olds have some form of hearing loss. United Kingdom hearing aid usage 2m out of the 10m At least another 4m out of the 10m with wear hearing aids hearing loss would benefit from hearing aids About two million people in the UK have hearing aids, but only 1.4 million use them regularly. Out of the total of ten million people, more than six million (6,138,000) would benefit from hearing aids. This means there are at least another four million people who do not have hearing aids but would benefit from them. HIDDEN HEARING WE LISTEN, YOU HEAR www.hiddenhearing.co.uk HEARING LOSS GUIDANCE FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SPOTTING THE EARLY SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS For most people, hearing loss happens slowly - so slowly in fact that it's hard for them to notice it deteriorate at all. Indeed, you may realise someone has signs of hearing loss before they realise themselves. Here are some early signs to look out for: Turning the volume up on the TV Regularly misunderstanding conversation WHAT?I? If someone in your life is resorting to turning the volume up for no apparent reason, it could be an indicator that they're struggling with some level of hearing loss. In the same way our vision can become blurred, so can our hearing. While it's rare not to hear people at all, your friend or loved one may be struggling to hear you clearly. Often avoiding social situations Regularly feeling tired or stressed frritm a With increased background noise, social gatherings can be tricky for someone starting to experience hearing loss. As such, you may notice them avoiding these situations. Listening with a hearing loss is hard work and requires concentration. For that reason, some people find they tire easily during conversations and often become stressed. NEXT STEPS FOR YOUR FRIEND OR LOVED ONE It is of course a sensitive subject, but if you think someone is suffering from hearing loss, try to support them and point them in the direction of someone that can help. There are three main options for your friend or loved one: Talk to a Hearing Aid Audiologist Talk to their GP Do nothing at all A qualified Hearing Aid Audiologist registered with the Health Professions Council will Ultimately, your friend or loved one has the right to decide what's best for them, and they Their doctor will be able to discuss their hearing loss with them and refer them offer advice on improving their hearing loss. They will always advise where hearing can be improved without a hearing aid. to their local hospital's audiology department or a specialist hearing care provider where appropriate. may choose not to act at all. You can only advise speaking to somebody, and inform them of the dangers of not acting. HOW TO HELP SOMEONE WITH HEARING LOSS There are a number of communication tactics that you can use to help the person you suspect has a hearing loss. While these cannot replace the benefits of seeking help from a specialist, they should go some way to making communication a little easier. When it comes to communicating with somebody who has a hearing loss, follow these seven simple rules: Set the scene; a well lit place with little to no background noise is always a better place for an important conversation Keep face to face (eye to eye contact even better) throughout the conversation Focus on speaking very clearly when you're talking rather than speaking slowly, which most people tend to focus on Use a natural facial expression and natural gestures; don't exaggerate or be theatrical when you're talking Don't shout. A hearing loss can also lead to an increased sensitivity to loud noises - so focus on speaking clearer rather than louder If someone can't understand what you're saying (sometimes the case in noisy situations), don't keep repeating yourself. Simply find another way to explain Make sure you have the person's full attention before asking a question. It helps greatly if you start your question with their name DID YOU KNOW... Many people don't realise just how big a problem hearing loss has become in the UK - here are some rather shocking facts and figures around hearing loss in the United Kingdom: Number of people in the UK with some form of hearing loss MORE THAN 10 MILLION PEOPLE One in six of the UK population suffers from some form of hearing loss - that's more than 10 million people altogether. Percentage of older people with some form of hearing loss Over 70 years old Under 50 Over 50 years old years old Most of the ten million people in the UK with hearing loss developed it as they got older. Age-related damage to the cochlea is the single biggest cause of hearing loss: 71.1% of over 70 year olds and 41.7% of over 50 year olds have some form of hearing loss. United Kingdom hearing aid usage 2m out of the 10m At least another 4m out of the 10m with wear hearing aids hearing loss would benefit from hearing aids About two million people in the UK have hearing aids, but only 1.4 million use them regularly. Out of the total of ten million people, more than six million (6,138,000) would benefit from hearing aids. This means there are at least another four million people who do not have hearing aids but would benefit from them. HIDDEN HEARING WE LISTEN, YOU HEAR www.hiddenhearing.co.uk