Hearing Loss Can Diminish Holidays

The sounds of the holidays — joyous music, lively conversation and family gatherings, children and grandchildren laughing and enjoying the season — are a cherished part of every holiday season. But if a loved one has trouble hearing in crowded, noisy situations, or suffers any degree of hearing loss, the holidays may lose some of their sparkle.
Hearing loss, especially during the holidays, contributes to feelings of anxiety, anger and depression. The person with a hearing problem can feel left out and isolated, and family members may wrongly attribute the person’s anger and frustration to issues such as aging or other health problems, when the reality is that their loved ones simply can’t hear what’s happening around them.
A person with hearing loss symptoms may have difficulty with the higher pitched tones of children’s (and women‘s) speech. Missing out on a grandchild’s recitation of a wish list, or not being able to contribute to a family conversation about holiday memories, can be frustrating for both the person suffering from hearing loss, as well as family members who may not be aware of the hearing problem.
There are ways to help a loved one with hearing problems enjoy the holiday season. It takes observation, awareness, and a healthy dose of patience — communication skills that are useful year round — but may be even more important when families and friends gather to celebrate.
In fact, one out of 10 Americans has some degree of hearing loss. Teens who give the appearance of being uncooperative or withdrawn may simply not be able to hear well enough to respond to requests for help in the kitchen or questions about school.
The holidays often provide the perfect opportunity for a heartfelt family discussion about health concerns. Recognizing the causes and types of hearing loss can help pinpoint the problem, and rule out other medical issues.
With the support of family, a person with hearing problems may be more able to accept the need to get hearing loss treatment, and may be ready to take the first steps to better hearing — a hearing test by a qualified hearing specialist, and, if necessary, hearing aids. What a great gift to give a loved one (or yourself) this holiday season!
For more information on coping with hearing loss during the holiday season, contact Ron Kittner of Miracle-Ear Hearing Center of North Cape May at (609) 770-4630.