What? What Did You Say?

My dad is hard of hearing. Every conversation has to be repeated, often more than once and at ever increasing decibels. Sometimes we just give up in frustration and tell him, "Oh, never mind." He has hearing aids but doesn't like to wear them; says they hurt his ears. It's annoying and frustrating for all of us, especially dad. But it doesn't have to be. We just need to make a few changes in the way we communicate with dad to make it more pleasant for everyone.

There are 28 million Americans who suffer from hearing loss and you probably know at least one of them. A natural sign of aging, hearing loss is caused by changes in the structure of the ear. One in three Americans over the age of 65 are affected, and someday you may be one of them.

According to the online magazine Caregiver.com, there are additional conditions that can cause or exacerbate hearing loss, including:

• Build-up of earwax
• Chronic middle or inner ear infections
• Medical conditions like diabetes or a brain tumor
• High blood pressure
• Exposure to excessive noise like heavy machinery
• A blood clot in the nerves of the ear
• Tinnitus (ringing sensation in the ear)
• Meniere's disease (excess fluid in the inner ear canals)

Your doctor can determine the cause of hearing loss and possible treatment. Hearing aids may help. But there are some simple things you can do in the mean time to make communicating easier.

• Touch the person to gain his attention before you start speaking.
• Look at the person when you are talking to them.
• Stand or sit closer to the person.
• Sit in the front row during church, meetings or in an auditorium.
• Limit background noise.
• In a group, take turns talking.
• Many churches, theaters and movie theaters have special ear phones for the hearing impaired. Call ahead to make sure they'll be available and are charged up.
• Get a high quality headphone for the TV or radio. My dad likes the Bose model that completely surrounds the ear. It allows him to hear the TV without jacking the volume level into the blast zone.

Most of all, be patient and understanding. People who suffer a hearing loss feel isolated and frustrated when they can't communicate. It's likely you'll be in their shoes some day, so think about how you would like to be treated and act accordingly. For help and information on coping with hearing loss, visit the Hearing Loss Association of America website.