The holiday season often brings families and loved ones together for festivities, but it can also present challenges for those experiencing hearing loss. Dr. Angela Peng, an otolaryngologist at Baylor College of Medicine, highlights the signs of hearing loss and offers guidance on discussing this issue respectfully.
Dr. Peng notes that holiday gatherings can be particularly difficult due to the abundance of background noise from conversations and music. "At holiday gatherings, there are a lot of people talking around you and background noise, whether that is with music or conversations, and people with hearing loss have a hard time listening when there is a lot of noise," she explains.
People with hearing loss may find conversations sound muffled or incomplete. As individuals age, their hearing often declines, and genetics can also play a role. Dr. Peng advises approaching discussions about hearing loss with patience by engaging in one-on-one conversations away from noisy environments and speaking directly to the person so they can read lips if necessary.
She emphasizes that simply raising one's voice may not be effective: "If a person’s hearing loss is related to clarity or the understanding of words, no matter how loud you talk, the message to them will still sound garbled."
When addressing someone’s hearing difficulties, it is helpful to inquire if they have consulted an audiologist or an ear, nose, and throat physician. An audiologist conducts tests to assess sound perception and word clarity. If needed, they may refer patients to an ENT specialist for further evaluation.
"Hearing aids are appropriate for the first signs of hearing loss," Dr. Peng states. However, she adds that more severe cases might require cochlear implants: "If the hearing worsens, we might consider a cochlear implant, which requires surgery. With this, a more thorough discussion is needed."
