The Thanksgiving holiday focuses on delicious meals, spending time with loved ones, and meaningful discussions. Yet, if a family member has difficulty with hearing loss, they might feel apart at the dinner table, despite being surrounded by caring people.
While it may not seem like the “right time” to talk about something so personal, a holiday gathering can actually be a gentle, supportive moment to open the door to a discussion about hearing health.
Why Thanksgiving is a natural setting for this conversation
The dinner table is where tales are exchanged, jokes are made, and news is shared. Unfortunately, for individuals whose hearing loss is untreated, this setting often proves to be challenging and isolating. Thanksgiving is an ideal time to gently voice your concerns and offer support if you’ve seen a loved one avoiding conversation, often asking others to repeat themselves, or making more errors in hearing.
The advantage lies in the fact that their most trusted family members are nearby, creating a feeling of support rather than accusation.
Creating a supportive setting for enhanced interaction
Before initiating the talk, small changes to your environment can make a big difference for your loved one’s ease and assurance during the gathering:
- Reduce background noise. Minimize distracting sounds; keep the volume of the television or music low to reduce auditory interference.
- Be mindful of seating. Seat your loved one in the middle of the table or near people they talk with most easily.
- Use bright illumination. Bright rooms make it easier for someone with hearing loss to see facial expressions and lip movements.
- Share your intentions. Quietly let close family members know you’d like to bring up the topic in a supportive way so they can back you up with empathy.
Making these straightforward adjustments will ease communication barriers and help reduce the emotional pressure of talking about health.
A guide to raising the topic gently and avoiding discomfort
To ensure a positive outcome, approach the topic with care rather than a desire to correct or fix. Try not to make the talk sound like a demand for immediate action or correction. Instead, gently voice that you’ve observed they seem to have difficulty hearing and that you want to help, not criticize.
“I love that we’re all together today, and I want to make sure you can enjoy it fully. I’ve noticed it’s sometimes hard for you to hear everything that’s going on. Have you thought about having your hearing checked?”
Provide space to talk and share their thoughts. They may feel a sense of ease that someone noticed, or they may brush it off. Don’t force the issue no matter what their response is. Simply offer your support and plan to discuss it again another time if necessary.
What to offer: support and practical suggestions
Should your loved one shows willingness to investigate solutions, have a few helpful, non-threatening suggestions prepared:
- Bring up hearing tests. Inform them that an evaluation is a simple, non-invasive process.
- Make the topic seem normal of hearing aids by comparing them to glasses, which similarly improve life quality without causing stigma.
- Point out the advantages: improved relationships, reduced stress levels, and a boost in self-assurance are all outcomes of better hearing.
You shouldn’t aim to resolve the entire situation in a single talk. It’s to plant a seed of support that can flourish.
making thanksgiving a time for thanks and an opportunity to enhance hearing
Because Thanksgiving is for expressing gratitude for loved ones, it sometimes calls for important conversations that can enhance their quality of life. While discussing hearing loss can be initially uncomfortable, addressing it in a familiar, warm environment helps your loved one feel seen, supported, and ready for action.
If you have a loved one is having trouble with their hearing, consider opening up the conversation during this Thanksgiving holiday. It may be a life-changing improvement.