Learning how to help a loved one with hearing loss often starts with how you communicate. Small changes such as turning off the TV, facing each other, and avoiding loud restaurants can make everyday conversations easier.
If you’ve noticed your loved one withdrawing from conversations or asking you to repeat yourself more often, you may also wonder how to recommend a hearing evaluation without making them feel pressured. Here are ways to encourage them to get the help they need.
Key Takeaways
- Helping your loved one with hearing loss starts with listening.
- Eye contact, quiet environments, and right timing make conversations easier.
- Communicate with your loved one slowly, compassionately, and informatively.
- Offer to attend a hearing evaluation with them if they would like your support.
How Do You Communicate Effectively With Someone Who Has Hearing Loss?
Start by listening to them. You may feel frustrated about communicating with your loved one. However, remember how frustrating it is for them to not be able to hear you. Ask what you can do differently to help them. Not only will this give you tangible strategies, but it will likely make them feel supported as well.
Communicating with someone with hearing loss takes some practice. Here are some caregiver communication strategies that can set you and your loved one up to have successful conversations.
- Make Eye Contact – Make sure you’re standing in front of the person as you talk, since face-to-face communication is the easiest way for most people to hear you.
- Clear Lighting – A well-lit room helps people with hearing loss by allowing them to use lip reading or body language to support their understanding.
- Get Their Attention – Put a hand on their shoulder or say their name to get their attention so that they are prepared for what you have to say.
- Find Their Good Side – People with hearing loss may have one ear that is easier to hear with, so move to their better side and help them hear you more easily.
- Speak Slowly – Slow down and focus on enunciating your words. Remember that most people do not want to be shouted at. Low and slow.
- Background Noise Reduction – Turn the television or radio down or off before speaking to someone with hearing loss or choose to move the conversation to a quiet room.
- Visit Quiet Environments – Some restaurants are much louder than others, so choose quiet public places to visit, or sit furthest from the speaker or crowded area.
- Right Timing – Exhaustion makes listening harder for a person with hearing loss, so having an in-depth conversation right before bed may not set them up for success.
- Get Clarification – If you notice their face seems confused, simply ask them if they understand in a gentle and kind way.
- Rephrase – Instead of repeating yourself, rephrasing your words might make it easier for someone to understand what you’re saying.
- Be Patient – Having to repeat yourself can be frustrating, but that frustration can make communicating more difficult. Be patient as you navigate this new territory.
These approaches can help whether or not your loved one uses hearing devices. They’re also useful alongside hearing aids, which can also improve access to sound.
How Do You Talk to a Family Member Who Won’t Admit They Have Hearing Loss?
It can be tempting to point out someone’s hearing loss when you’re frustrated. However, this can make someone even more defensive, particularly if they deny their hearing loss to begin with. These strategies can help communication go smoothly.
Speak Compassionately
No one wants to admit they have hearing loss, particularly if they fear being judged or humiliated by those around them. Hearing aid stigma causes people to worry about being seen as old, weak, or incapable. Understanding this brings empathy to the conversation and can help someone admit they have hearing loss. Talk to them about your experience. Rather than saying “you’re always asking people to repeat themselves,” try “I feel disconnected from you when you’re not able to hear what I’m saying.”
Educate Yourself
Some people deny they have hearing loss because they fear losing their independence or seeming less capable. However, hearing care can support someone’s quality of life in ways that increase independence, connection, and health. Untreated hearing loss, on the other hand, can lead to social isolation, depression, and cognitive decline. Educating yourself on the value of hearing care can be helpful for both of you, so you understand how to help a loved one with hearing loss.
Get a Hearing Test Together
Power in numbers! A great way to minimize someone’s shame or embarrassment about getting a hearing test is getting one too. It’s never too early to get your hearing checked, since hearing loss can occur at any age. Whether you get your hearing or not, we always recommend accompanying your loved one to a hearing appointment for support and advocacy.
Get Your Hearing Tested Together
Supporting a loved one can be as simple as saying, “Let’s go together.” Find a trusted hearing care professional near you and schedule hearing tests side by side.
Quick Answers About Helping a Loved One With Hearing Loss
How Can I Talk on the Phone With Someone Who Has Hearing Loss?
Take the call in a quiet environment, speak slowly and clearly, and make sure the phone is close to your mouth. Many hearing devices make talking on the phone seamless, since they often offer Bluetooth® and Auracast™ streaming features. According to a study, the average adult waits about 9 years after a diagnosis before getting a hearing device. If a loved one has trouble understanding you on the phone, recommend they get a hearing evaluation and an amplified phone.
How Do I Talk to an Aging Parent With Hearing Loss?
Speak in a slow, compassionate, and informative manner, and an aging parent may be able to hear you better. They may also begin to understand why a hearing device could help. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 1 in 3 adults ages 70 and older with hearing loss has used hearing aids. Once someone can hear the difference, their perspective can shift. Talk to them about visiting an audiologist together to see if hearing aids are right for them.
Can Untreated Hearing Loss Lead to Social Isolation?
Yes, someone with hearing loss may slowly withdraw from social activities they used to enjoy since they can become draining and less enjoyable. This is one way hearing loss can negatively affect someone’s social, mental, and physical well-being. Research shows that hearing loss is strongly connected with symptoms of depression, and that these symptoms can reduce with the use of hearing aids. If your loved one has withdrawn socially, encourage them to get a hearing aid consultation.
How Do I Handle My Own Frustration When a Loved One Can’t Hear Me?
Be patient, rephrase your words, or move to a location with less background noise. You’re not alone in finding repeated communication difficult. In a 2026 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association poll, nearly 8 in 10 caregivers of adults with communication difficulties said dealing with those challenges was exhausting. The poll included caregivers of people with hearing loss, along with other conditions. An audiologist can recommend the best treatment for your loved one to avoid frustration.
How HearingLoss.com Can Help You Support a Loved One With Hearing Loss
You do not need all the answers before starting a conversation. HearingLoss.com’s hearing health information can help you learn more together. Your loved one can also try the free online hearing screener or find a hearing care professional nearby. If you don’t know how to help a loved one with hearing loss, a professional evaluation provides a full picture of your loved one’s hearing and an opportunity to discuss their goals, questions, and next steps.
References
- Quick Statistics About Hearing, Balance, & Dizziness. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing. Accessed September 23, 2026.
- Mener D, Betz K, et al. Hearing Loss and Depression in Older Adults. National Library of Medicine. 2013. 61(9):1627–1629. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3773611/. Accessed September 23, 2026.
- Simpson A, Matthews L, et al. Time From Hearing Aid Candidacy to Hearing Aid Adoption: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. 2019. 40(3):468-476. https://www.ovid.com/jnls/ear-hearing/abstract/10.1097/aud.0000000000000641~time-from-hearing-aid-candidacy-to-hearing-aid-adoption-a. Accessed September 23, 2026.
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. ASHA–YouGov National Caregiver Poll: Communication Breakdowns Are Raising Safety Concerns. 2026. https://www.asha.org/news/2026/asha-yougov-national-caregiver-poll-communication-breakdowns-are-raising-safety-concerns/?. Accessed September 23, 2026.
Hearing Associates – Mason City, Iowa
Established in 1987, Hearing Associates follows best practices to provide expert, personalized hearing care. With several offices around northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, we offer diagnostics, hearing aid fittings, and rehabilitation to help you hear your best and live life to the fullest.
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