My recent article for Hearing Tracker ponders whether you should bring your family to your next audiologist appointment. What do you think?
The power of including your family in your hearing loss journey can’t be overstated. This was on clear display at a recent HLAA panel discussion on family relationships and hearing loss. The panelists included a married couple, a mother/daughter and two sisters. One person in each pair had hearing loss, while the other did not. The love and respect that they had for one another shone through. Not only were they great partners in life, but also in communication. Each acknowledged that it took a lot of work, but the payoff was significant for both sides.
Hearing Loss Impacts Your Family Too
Hearing loss does not happen to you alone. It impacts those closest to you too, especially your family. Difficulty communicating causes friction, which can take a toll on these important relationships. Cooperation and effort are needed from both sides meaning getting your family on your hearing loss team is imperative.
It is up to you to bring your family along with you on your journey. This includes not only the logistics of hearing aids and other devices, but also your feelings. Acknowledge your anger and sadness — they can see it anyway. The more you share, the easier it will be for them to provide the support you need. Keeping it all inside may give the appearance that you have it under control or that you don’t want to talk about it. Breaking down these barriers will strengthen your relationships and deepen your mutual understanding.
Bring Your Family to the Audiologist
When I first began acknowledging my hearing loss, I brought my husband with me to audiologist appointments. His emotional support was helpful, especially as I was still overcoming significant self-imposed stigma about wearing hearing aids. But once I was fitted with my first pair of hearing aids, he stopped coming. Perhaps that was a mistake.
Consider taking your family to your next audiologist appointment. For a list of possible benefits, click here to continue reading on Hearing Tracker.
That is good advice. History has taught me that even with good intentions the hearing would always make the assumptions of what they think is best for the ones with hearing loss. My advice would be is to make sure your “partner” is always on your side. Talking about hearing loss with a family member can cause stress levels to go up, and most likely just brush it off. Sometimes writing down what has been going on in your life with hearing loss can be helpful. Having a strong support system is very helpful. Not many people have it. We need more people to advocate for us. Easy said than done. Your bog is very helpful and allows us to share with others who are struggling. Keep up the good work.
Good advice. Self- advocacy and awareness building is so important, even with those closest to us. Thanks for your comment.
I always appreciate this post. Like you, my wife accompanied me to most of the appointments I had when I was transitioning from hearing aids to a cochlear implant, including my first activation. After that, I went by myself.
I know my audiologist would welcome her. She believes that it is helpful after every new mapping, to test it out with a familiar voice.
I think I don’t do it because it feels like one more way in which my hearing inconveniences her life. I am sure that is my problem rather than hers.
She might enjoy taking this journey with you. Maybe ask her about it rather than assuming it is an inconvenience. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
This is indeed a good report on hearing loss. I have worn aids since 2000. Ten years before that I had hearing loss, not from listening to continual loud noises. One time extremely loud drums at a church service!. I have a friend with Meneiere’s disease also causing hearing loss. It isn’t just an older person’s issue. And we are overlooked, ignored, laughed at etc. Yes, it hurts. By the way, I have been a Preschool teacher for 20+ years. I am self taught in sign language and teach it to my students.
Thank you for weighing in on this issue.