Hearing aids are commonly recommended to seniors who experience a dramatic change or decrease in hearing. While a hearing aid can help your aging loved one hear better, it isn’t an immediate fix in most cases. There’s often a period of adjustment when someone starts using a hearing aid for the first time. If you care for a senior family member who has recently been prescribed a hearing aid, the following tips can help him or her better transition to the new equipment.
Adjust to New Sounds
For seniors who have been gradually losing their hearing, the onslaught of new sounds can be overwhelming. A background noise such as crickets in the yard or the hum of the refrigerator can be as loud as someone talking right next to your loved one. To help the brain learn to reprioritize sounds, encourage your family member to wear the hearing aid for an hour or two each day and then gradually increase the amount of time it’s worn.
From using new devices to managing basic housekeeping tasks, older adults often require help with a variety of activities. Every senior has different needs when aging in place. Some simply need occasional assistance with household chores, while others may be managing serious illnesses and require more extensive live-in care. Pearland seniors can count on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide the in-home care they need and deserve.
Find the Right Speaking Volume
Many seniors find their voices sound too loud when they first begin using hearing aids. Encourage your loved one to read out loud, and let your parent know when he or she is speaking at a comfortable volume. With practice, your family member will be better able to modulate his or her own speaking voice.
Learn in a Comfortable Environment
It’s usually helpful for new hearing aid users to avoid very noisy places at first. Have your loved one practice with the new device at home for a few days before venturing out to the mall or a movie. Once your loved one is more comfortable, provide accompaniment to the grocery store or on other errands and monitor his or her ability to hear in various places. Your presence can provide your loved one with peace of mind and a sense of security.
A professional caregiver can provide transportation as well as a variety of other types of support for seniors. There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to address if their families opt for professional senior home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.
Follow Up with the Doctor
Hearing aids are often programmed according to the results of a hearing assessment, ensuring the aid meets your loved one’s individual hearing needs. If your loved one is finding the volume of the hearing aid to be uncomfortable, or if the piece itself is causing pain, a trip back to the doctor can be extremely valuable. The doctor or audiologist can readjust certain sound modifications and answer questions to calm any fears or anxiety.
Hearing impairment is a common occurrence in aging adults, but it doesn’t have to keep them from enjoying the things they love and spending their golden years in the safety and comfort of home. Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality home care. Pearland families trust Assisting Hands Home Care to help their elderly loved ones age in place safely and comfortably. Call one of our Care Managers today to learn about our customized in-home care plans.
