Managing Your Hearing Loss this Holiday Season

Feelings of Isolation during the Holidays due to Hearing Loss

It’s the holiday season, and many people have or will be attending gatherings with friends and family. For some, this also means lots of shopping, cooking or traveling. For others, the holiday season can cause feelings of isolation and loneliness. Those who suffer from hearing loss and have not addressed it, are at a higher risk of these feelings. 

Studies connect untreated hearing loss to depression, loneliness, and stress which can increase during the holiday season. If you experience hearing loss, holiday gatherings may be awkward or challenging when you attempt to communicate with others. You may even avoid parties altogether, which leads to even more depression, loneliness, and stress which causes a vicious cycle. They may feel inadequate, isolated, and unhappy. This is mainly the case when someone refuses to recognize their hearing loss, and they are actively hiding their hearing loss or faking their hearing abilities. 
   
Enjoy your life, and the company of others again

Do not give up hope on hearing again. Here are seven tips to address your hearing loss so you can enjoy this holiday season:

1. Do not continue to struggle with your hearing. Schedule an appointment with a hearing care professional immediately. 
2. Discuss your hearing loss with others. Tell your friends and family that you are hard of hearing, so that they can efficiently communicate with you and support you.  
3. Revisit past traditions. What are some things that you enjoyed in the past? Baking cookies, cooking an old family recipe, making ornaments or gifts, and listening to or singing music can help bring back fond memories and the joy of the season.  
4. Connect with others. Do not let hearing loss, depression, isolation, and loneliness get in the way of attending social gatherings. Make a plan to get together with friends and family.
5. Do volunteer work. This is the time when charitable organizations need the most help. Volunteering can get your mind off of your own problems, make you feel socially connected to others, and reduce your loneliness and depression. You can visit a nursing home, work at a soup kitchen, help at a food or toy donation center, or even do gift wrapping for others. Serving others is a great way to lift your mood.
6. Get some rest. Even if you wear hearing aids, listening to conversations while there’s a lot of background noise can be exhausting. A well-rested mind is important when you are trying to engage in listening.     

If you, or a loved one, suffer from hearing loss be an advocate to yourself or that loved one.

If you believe that you, or someone in your life, may benefit from a hearing aid, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing screening and consultation. We offer a wide variety of hearing aids that can be customized to handle your personal needs. 

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