Humans are social creatures, and studies show that forming and maintaining deep and meaningful friendships is critical to our well-being and quality of life. If you have a friend with hearing loss, whether it’s untreated, they’re just starting their treatment journey or they’ve been wearing hearing aids for a long time, you, as their friend, have an important role to play.
How You Can Support Your Friend
Support comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Here are some practical ways you can offer support.
Directly
When you think of “supporting a loved one,” you probably envision many of these strategies, for good reason. These types of support provide affirmation and positivity.
- Be willing to listen. Just like any medical condition or treatment, people with hearing loss have a lot to process. They may feel many conflicting emotions simultaneously, be hesitant to seek treatment, or be embarrassed about their new hearing aids. Make it known that you’re a listening ear for them to talk to.
- Encourage hobbies and social interaction. Phone them up and suggest a round of pickleball or invite them to your neighborhood barbecue. Not only will this give you reasons to spend more time together, but it’ll also significantly enhance their well-being, keep them connected to the things they enjoy doing and give them something positive to look forward to.
- Do your research. Learning more about hearing loss can give you a great foundation for being a listening ear and puts you in a great position to anticipate their needs. Research symptoms, daily challenges and the impact of hearing loss on quality of life so you can better understand what your friend is going through.
Indirectly
These are some strategies that might seem more indirect, but make a world of difference.
- Reduce background noise whenever possible. Background noise can be a source of frustration for people with hearing loss as it pulls attention away and sometimes covers up what they’re trying to hear. Close windows and doors so no outside noise gets in, turn music down and choose quieter areas of the room for a conversation.
- Optimize seating. This can be done if you’re hosting your friend in your home or on-the-fly if you’re dining out together. Arrange furniture to allow easy face-to-face interactions and sit closer during conversations, especially in noisy environments.
- Enunciate. People commonly make the mistake of speaking loudly and slowly when speaking to someone with hearing loss. This actually does not improve speech clarity; it distorts your voice and can unintentionally come off as aggressive or patronizing. Instead, speak with your normal volume and cadence, but make an effort to enunciate your words.
Why It Matters
Hearing loss very commonly affects our social relationships and ability to communicate. Leaving hearing loss untreated is often associated with social isolation, increased rates of depression and anxiety and lessened functional independence. We know you care about your friend and want what’s best for them; being there to support them through hearing loss could be the anchor they need.
If you want to learn more about hearing loss, check out our blog and other hearing-related resources, such as the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
