Impact of Hearing Loss on Family Dynamics & How to Cope

Are you struggling with navigating family relationships with a newly diagnosed hearing loss? Let’s explore the impacts of hearing loss on family relationships and discover ways to cope together. 

Types of Hearing Loss

Many forms of hearing loss can result in a diagnosis of deafness or being hard of hearing. Some people experience single-sided (one ear only) or bilateral loss.Some may have hearing loss since a young age or birth, while others are late-deafened. Hearing loss can be caused by many different factors: genetics, noise exposure, nerve damage, damage to the inner or middle ear, or a neurological processing disorder. 

Regardless of cause or type, hearing loss significantly impacts a person’s day-to-day life and relationships. We will explore the different kinds of impact below. 

Impact on Relationships

Family and friends may struggle to understand what the new standard will look like when you’ve been diagnosed with hearing loss. They may also be unaware of how to be supportive and meet your needs, resulting in the following outcomes:

Communication Barriers

The first noticeable change after hearing loss is the increased barriers to communication in daily life. Your family members may notice a need to repeat themselves more frequently or speak at a louder volume. This can lead to increased misunderstandings and confusion for all participants. Conversations may also become more predictable and simplified to mitigate communication challenges. 

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Emotional Stress

Changes in communication habits can lead many family members to experience new emotions, such as increased frustration and anxiety over miscommunication. Those with hearing loss may feel isolation and fear of being left out. They may worry about causing other people to stress and mask by pretending to understand what was said.

New Expectations

Family and friends may notice their roles in the relationship shifting. There may be a newfound pressure to “help” when communication barriers occur, such as during family gatherings. They may find themselves repeating missed information, such as a joke or missed comment. The deaf or hard of hearing family member may have no expectations for the family to do so, but some family or friends can feel a normal desire to be as inclusive as possible.

Social Impacts

Social events may shift in an attempt to be more inclusive. Gatherings, events, holiday dinners, movie theater outings, and other social events will be re-evaluated to determine whether the deaf or hard-of-hearing member can fully participate. A lack of inclusion can cause feelings of isolation, such as the “dinner table syndrome.” 

Coping Strategies

We have listed a few impacts on the family and friends of a member with hearing loss. However, a few strategies can enhance your relationship—read on for our tips!

New Communication Strategies

The first thing most people do during a misunderstanding is to repeat things or voice louder. While it is one method, it’s often unhelpful for many who are deaf and hard of hearing. As many deaf people use some form of speech reading, repeating the exact words will likely be ineffective. Instead, try re-phrasing what was said another way. 

Another strategy is to write it down on your phone via text or pen and paper. Using visual aids is also another effective strategy. If you can show what you’re talking about or pull up a Google image on your phone – a picture is a thousand words. Also, don’t be afraid to use body language and gestures to communicate your point. 

Learning Emotional Skills

Learning new emotional skills when navigating a life change such as a hearing loss is helpful. See misunderstandings and frustrations as opportunities to show compassion, support and patience. Your deaf and hard of hearing family member is likely experiencing the same levels of frustration as you are, if not more. 

Communicate your feelings, ask what you can do to meet their needs, and find ways to work together.

Counseling and Education

If you or your family are struggling more than you anticipated, talk therapy may help you navigate a way forward. Therapy can give you more emotional tools to use daily and help you communicate more effectively. Seeing a deaf or hard of hearing consultant is another way to learn about different adapting methods, how to be more inclusive, and how to make accommodations in your environment. 

Adapting the Environment

Your home is likely set up for hearing residents. However, you can make many changes to make it accessible to your deaf or hard-of-hearing family members. From light-up fire alarms to furniture placements, Nagish outlines many ways to make your home accessible. 

Accessibility can go a long way toward making people feel included and helping reduce the frustration that comes from information loss. 

Using Resources & Technology

Nagish App and Live Transcribe

If you need to make phone calls to your deaf or hard of hearing family member, encourage them to try Nagish app. It is free, fast, and private to any user and provides captions and transcripts of phone conversations. In addition, they can type or voice their side of the conversation. It can be linked to their phone number for a seamless transition. 

Nagish also provides a free Live Transcribe from within the app for face-to-face conversations. The next time you meet with them, you can have unlimited speech-to-text access on your phone. 

Learn sign language

If your family member uses sign language, it is worthwhile to learn sign language to communicate with them. Many resources are available to learn sign language for free or at low cost. Your local community center or college may have classes available for the public. Learning from Deaf teachers online or from an app is also an option. Becoming familiar with sign language will help increase understanding and connection. 

Summary

Having a family member suddenly become deaf or hard of hearing can significantly impact your relationships. However, you can navigate this transition successfully with education, increased patience, new communication strategies, and technology! Doing so will strengthen your connection with them and create a deeper understanding and bond between you and your family members.