5 Tips for Talking About Hearing Loss

Author: John Irvine
Published: December 11, 2016
Last reviewed by: Leightons Clinical Team
Last reviewed: January 23, 2026

Hearing loss can be an incredibly difficult subject to talk about. If you think a loved one is having trouble hearing, your first instinct may well be to jump in and insist they have their hearing tested, or perhaps even tell them they need a hearing aid.

However, this approach will probably be met with a great deal of resistance. A person suffering with hearing loss is likely to be in denial – it can take around seven years on average for someone who is hard of hearing to accept it and choose to wear hearing aids.

It is generally more comfortable for a person to deny hearing loss. They are likely to be afraid of the unknown prospect of a hearing test and wearing hearing aids, and there is also the common stereotype of “old people” being hard of hearing. To accept their hearing loss, your loved one will need to overcome their fears as well as move beyond the barrier of society’s perception of them looking “old”. However, there are ways you can gently help and encourage them to do so.

1. Set the stage and choose your moment

It can be tempting to bring up a loved one’s hearing loss in a moment of frustration, after having had to repeat yourself for the third time for example. This is a negative point to start from though – it’s an important and delicate conversation that should be carefully considered. Try to plan the conversation well in advance to find the best time for it. You should also choose a quiet, private place to speak with minimal background noise.

2. Use “I” and be compassionate

When speaking to a person about hearing loss, do not talk about “their” problem or be aggressive or accusatory. That is likely to cause them to be very defensive and even stubborn, as it’s possible they feel that admitting to a hearing problem is the same as admitting to getting old.

Instead, try to be compassionate and show your concern for them. For example, “I’m a little worried about how often people have to repeat themselves when they’re talking to you” or “I’ve noticed you have to have the television very loud” could be good conversation openers.

3. Emphasise positive outcomes

Focus on the benefits of having their hearing loss treated that are personal to them. Instead of simply saying “you’ll hear better”, give examples such as “you can listen to the grandchildren read you a story” or “you’ll hear the birds in the morning when you go to get the paper”.

There are also other implications, such as the fact that untreated hearing loss can mean you are more likely to develop dementia, and even safety considerations such as hearing a smoke alarm.

4. Listen to them

Try not to lecture a loved one about hearing loss – it needs to be a two-way conversation. Be empathic, let them express their worries without cutting them off and try not to respond with “but…”. Acknowledging and accepting a hearing loss is a very big step and the most difficult one for someone to take in treating it.

5. Offer support

While accepting they may have a hearing loss can be the most difficult step for a loved one, they will still need support beyond it. They are likely to be nervous about the prospect of a hearing test and wearing hearing aids, particularly if they do not know what to expect.

Support them by offering to go with them for their hearing assessment, ask questions of the audiologist when you are there and continue to demonstrate the concern you showed when you first raised the issue. Your loved one will appreciate a steady source of emotional support.

Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care offer free hearing assessments, as well as a wide range of the latest digital hearing aid technology. Our expert audiologists are always on hand to help guide you through every step of the process, with free aftercare included as standard.

You can book a hearing appointment online, call us on 0800 40 20 20 or visit your nearest branch for more information.

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How do hearing amplifiers work?
Hearing amplification devices increase the volume and might make it easier for you to hear sounds louder. Yet they not a prescribed product and do not match your individual needs. Hearing loss is extremely common – millions of people in the UK live with a hearing loss, so you’re not alone. At Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care, our expert audiologists will help you identify the best device for you, in most cases this is a Hearing Aid. What is a hearing amplifier? Much like a tiny PA system, hearing amplification devices use microphones to capture and amplify all sounds around you, before delivering it to your ear at an adequate and audible volume level. What kind of devices are available? There are plenty of hearing amplifiers designed to help you while on the telephone, watching TV, and for in-person conversations. However, these devices amplify all sounds equally and aren’t designed to support hearing loss. For an all‑round solution that adapts to your personal hearing needs, a hearing aid is often the most effective option. Our expert audiologists can assess your hearing and guide you towards the most suitable hearing aid for your lifestyle and needs. What’s the difference between a hearing aid and a hearing amplifier? All hearing aids use amplification, however, hearing aids are regulated medical devices carefully programmed and tailored to fit the hearing loss of a particular individual. This makes them more suitable for moderate to severe hearing loss. Hearing amplifiers are not medical devices and are not designed to diagnose, treat or manage hearing loss. They don’t adapt to your individual needs, meaning they offer volume without improving clarity or understanding. What are induction loops? An induction loop is an older technology system designed to help hearing aid users to hear more clearly in some specific environments. You’ll often find them in places like meeting rooms, theatres, banks, and cinemas.  Here’s how it works:  A thin cable is installed around a room or designated listening area  The system creates a magnetic field that carries speech or important sound  When you switch your hearing aid or ALDs to the T (telecoil) setting, you can hear the sound closer to you and more clear with less background noise  Induction loops can make a huge difference to day‑to‑day listening comfort. Our audiologists can help you understand how loops - and other assistive listening devices - can work with Hearing Aids.  What is Auracast? Auracast is a new Bluetooth audio technology designed to make listening more inclusive. It allows one device to broadcast high-quality sound to multiple compatible hearing aids, earbuds, or headphones at the same time, without the need for pairing. Developed with the hearing aid industry for assistive listening, Auracast could mean easier access to shared audio in public spaces such as train stations and lecture theatres. For people with hearing loss, it’s a positive step towards clearer sound and greater confidence in everyday situations. Leightons free hearing test Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care offers a free hearing test in all branches. We provide a comprehensive hearing check carried out by our experts – professionally trained hearing aid audiologists registered with the HCPC (Health & Care Professions Council), with some even members of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists. Book your free hearing test now You can book an appointment online or you can call us on 0800 40 20 20 to arrange a free hearing test at your nearest Leightons branch. Alternatively, you can take the test at home. This involves the same experienced, professional audiologist you would see in branch coming to your home to carry out your hearing test with specialist portable equipment.
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