The holidays bring family and friends together to enjoy the beautiful seasonal sounds that fill our hearts with joy. And, healthy hearing is essential to being a part of the conversation and experiencing the things in life that really matter. In fact, more than 72% of people who have untreated hearing loss wish they had better hearing going into the holidays. 

Almost half of Canadians aged 40-79 having at least a mild hearing loss, that means 8.2 million people could be affected as research has shown that connecting with family and friends and social interaction in general is vital for our mental wellbeing and cognitive health.

What can we do to help those loved ones who may be suffering from hearing loss?

Hearing aids are a modern, high-tech solution to hearing loss. Long gone are the days when oversized and clunky hearing aids advertise their wearer’s hearing impairment to the world and may be a deterrent to seeking the help required. Modern hearing aids are discreet and with recent technological advancements can be rechargeable and offer Bluetooth connectivity where you can stream your TV, phone and other devices directly to your hearing aids.

Untreated hearing loss can also result in depression, anxiety, dementia, higher risk of falling in seniors, and more. But, treating your hearing loss with modern hearing aids helps people become more socially engaged as they reconnect with their loved ones, and helps to keep your brain fit … just like “working out” your muscles with regular exercise, we must do the same with our brain, and hearing is an essential part of this.

What are the signs of hearing loss over the Holidays?

• It sounds like people are mumbling, and you often ask people to repeat themselves.

• You sometimes have trouble hearing when someone is not directly facing you or is wearing a mask.

• When at a family gathering, the conversation gets lost in the mix of the other noise.

• You often find that you need to turn the TV volume to a level that is uncomfortable for others.

• You have found yourself smiling and nodding during a conversation, even though you were not sure of what was said.

The inability to hear conversations may result in you or a loved one withdrawing from conversations, which may lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Spending time with family and friends over the holidays may become less enjoyable and you may be missing out on those simple moments that are priceless family memories.

Discovering that one of our five senses, which we’ve relied on since birth, is struggling is challenging for many – both for the individual experiencing hearing loss, and their loved ones who are also impacted.  

To find out more, reach out to hearingsolutions.ca