July 11 was National Cheer up the Lonely Day. Even though it has passed—it’s still a good reminder to pay attention to those around you with hearing loss.
Hearing loss can be isolating. When someone is experiencing hearing loss, they often pull away from important relationships—simply because it’s difficult to follow conversations and stay connected. And sometimes that isolation can look like depression.
Research studies by the Academy of Finland found that hearing loss impacts on older people’s ability to communicate. But it also affects the older person’s ability to move about and participate in different hobbies and activities.
“In our recent studies, we’ve observed that older people with hearing problems have a more limited life space, and that these problems lower their quality of life,” says Doctoral Student Hannele Polku.
At ReSound, we believe in helping people rediscover hearing, which we think of as another way of saying we want people to rediscover the richness of their relationships.
If you have someone in your life who is beginning to be affected by hearing loss, help them schedule and attend an appointment for a hearing exam. And you can also try out these suggestions from Robin Madell, (via Healthline) for helping someone stay connected despite hearing loss:
- Invite them along to whatever you are doing
- Plan a walking date
- Do something special together
