The Power of a Support System in Hearing Health

Living with hearing loss can be hard at times, but having a strong support system makes it easier.

Your support system may include family, found family, friends, neighbors, members of your church or religious community—it's anyone you can count on to be there for you throughout your hearing loss journey!

What the Research Says

When a trusted pal or devoted loved one shows up for you, your overall hearing health experience can get a boost.

According to research:

• People with hearing loss who have higher levels of social support report lower levels of anxiety, depression and stress.¹
• Patients with hearing loss who bring a significant other to their audiology appointments are more likely to obtain a hearing aid than those who don't.²
• Hearing aid users with positive support from significant others experience improved outcomes with their devices.³

Easy Ways to Include Your Support System

Sometimes, people want to help you but don't know how. Here are a few ideas on what they can do to support you.

• Teach effective communication strategies: Ask them to face you while talking and speak clearly and at a moderate pace.
• Attend appointments together: Suggest that loved ones attend your audiologist appointments to better understand your condition and treatment options.
• Engage in hearing-friendly activities: Choose activities such as watching movies with subtitles or attending events with assistive listening devices.
• Be open about feelings: Encourage discussions about the emotional impact of hearing loss and how it affects daily life for you both.

Is someone in your life living with untreated hearing loss? Be a positive part of their support system—suggest they take the first step to better hearing by scheduling an evaluation with us!

_{¹ Vegia, S. et al. (2015). Living with hearing loss: psychosocial impact and the role of social support. Journal of Otolaryngology-ENT Research. https://medcraveonline.com/JOENTR/living-with-hearing-loss-psychosocial-impact-and-the-role-of-social-support.html}

_{² Singh, G. et al. (2016). Social context and hearing aid adoption. Trends in Hearing. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10.1177/2331216516673833?src=getftr}

_{³ Hickson, L. et al. (2014). Factors associated with success with hearing aids in older adults. International Journey of Audiology. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/14992027.2013.860488#abstract}