How to Communicate with Someone Who Has Hearing Loss

A few months ago, a gentleman in his late sixties came to our clinic with his daughter. Halfway through the consultation, she said something that has stayed with me: “Papa has stopped joining us at the dinner table. He says he’s tired, but I think he just can’t follow what we’re saying.” Her father looked down and quietly nodded.

In my years as an audiologist, I’ve seen this pattern again and again. Hearing loss doesn’t only affect the person who has it. It changes how families talk, how friends connect, and how colleagues work together. The good news is that small, thoughtful changes in the way we communicate can make an enormous difference, often long before or alongside any treatment.

Here is what I share with families every day.