Skip to main content
Book
bubbles couple dancing

Helping someone with hearing loss

An individual's hearing loss can affect everyone around them, and their family and friends will likely feel the benefits when they seek treatment. On this page you can learn how to help your loved one on their journey to healthy hearing.

Book a free consultation Hearing loss treatment
90-Day Money-Back Guarantee
For peace of mind
Icon of doctor
No referral
needed from ENT
icon of group of people
40,000+
satisfied customers
icon of person wearing headphones
FREE
hearing tests

6 signs your loved one has hearing loss

Do you recognise any of these symptoms in a friend or loved one?

If you get familiar with the signs of hearing loss, you can better help your loved one on their journey to better hearing.

Image shows people on an outdoor dinner party
1. Difficulty following conversations
They have difficulty following group conversations (or when background noise is present).
Image shows man talking on the phone
2. Phone conversations are unclear
They have trouble following phone conversations in quiet and noisy places.
Image shows elderly man talking
3. They ask others to repeat themselves
They complain that they cannot hear others clearly or that others seem to be mumbling.
Image shows hand being held close to an ear
4. Difficulty locating sounds
They have difficulty locating where sounds are coming from.
woman in pain holding head
5. Signs of tinnitus
They experience ringing or buzzing sounds in their ears (called tinnitus).
Image shows hand holding remote control
6. Turning up the TV too loud
They turn up the TV volume too loud.
Image shows man talking on the phone while holding his head

Behavior changes can be a sign of hearing loss

If someone you know is suffering from untreated hearing loss, you might notice some changes in their behavior. These may include:

  • Withdrawal from social activities
  • Feelings of shame, guilt or anger
  • Becoming self-critical, frustrated and depressed

When to seek help for hearing loss

How to help someone with hearing loss

Here are 3 ways you can help your loved one take the first step towards better hearing
icon of man with headphones
Study the signs of hearing loss together
Signs of hearing loss
ear icon
Take our quick and easy online hearing test
Take online hearing test
icon of hearing aid
Book a free hearing test with one of our audiologists
Book a hearing test
audiologist woman

Request a consultation for someone you love

Help your loved one take the first step to better hearing by scheduling an appointment. The booking is free of charge, and there is no obligation to purchase.

Don’t have a mobile number? Click here.

Don’t have a landline number? Click here.

lady resting on head

Consequences of untreated hearing loss

In order to increase your loved one's awareness about their potential hearing loss, tell them about the benefits of seeking hearing care. You may also wish to share some of the short and long-term consequences of untreated hearing loss, such as:

  • Increased mental load
  • Social isolation and depression
  • Poor balance and fall-related injuries
  • Dementia and Alzheimer's disease

Consequences of untreated hearing loss

6 benefits of getting hearing loss treatment

wine glasses cheers
1. Hear clearly in most situations and enjoy life more
woman talking in man's ear
2. Be able to participate in conversations again
Image shows woman feeling happy
3. Avoid the stress and discomfort caused by impaired hearing
Image shows men talking
4. Avoid having to ask people to repeat themselves
man on the phone
5. Hear phone conversations effortlessly
Image shows couple on sofa with popcorn and remote control in their hands
6. Listen to the TV at the same volume as other people around you

7 habits for good communication

There are a number of ways to make it easier to communicate with those with hearing loss. Follow these 7 habits for clearer communication:

  1. Gain the person’s attention before speaking so that they’re ready to look at you and focus on what you’re saying.
  2. Speak clearly and at a natural pace; don’t shout.
  3. Move closer and sit where your face is lit, so that your facial expressions are easy to read.
  4. Try not to talk while chewing or smoking, and be sure not to hide your mouth or chin while speaking.
  5. Reduce background noise, turn down the music or TV, or find somewhere quiet to talk.
  6. If you are in a group, try not to interrupt each other.
  7. Instead of repeating yourself, try to rephrase the sentence.

Tips for talking to a friend about hearing loss:

Sources

1. Amieva, H., Ouvrard, C., Meillon, C., Rullier, L., & Dartigues, J. (2018, January 03). Death, Depression, Disability, and Dementia Associated With Self-reported Hearing Problems: A 25-Year Study. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/73/10/1383/4783130

2. Lin, F. R.. (2011, February 1). Hearing Loss and Incident Dementia. Archives of Neurology. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/802291.

3. Lin, F. R., & Ferrucci, L. (2012). Hearing loss and falls among older adults in the United States. Archives of internal medicine, 172(4), 369–371. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.728

4. Rönnberg J;Lunner T;Zekveld A;Sörqvist P;Danielsson H;Lyxell B;Dahlström O;Signoret C;Stenfelt S;Pichora-Fuller MK;Rudner M;. (n.d.). The Ease of Language Understanding (ELU) model: Theoretical, empirical, and clinical advances. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23874273/

  1. Home
  2. Hearing loss
  3. Living with hearing loss
  4. Help someone with hearing loss