Helping a Parent With Hearing Loss: Practical First Steps
In short. Hearing usually changes slowly with age, so parents often do not notice it, or do not want to. You can help by raising it gently, changing how the family talks, making everyday listening easier at home, and supporting a hearing check, while leaving the decisions with them. About one in three people aged 65 to 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of those over 75 have difficulty hearing.
Why parents may not notice
Age-related hearing loss is gradual and usually affects both ears, so there is no clear moment when it starts. People adapt without realising, and others often notice first: the TV is loud, phone calls get shorter, group conversations become harder. Signs someone is struggling to hear lists what to look for.
Raising it without a fight
- Choose a quiet, private moment, not in front of others.
- Describe situations, not judgements: "I noticed the phone calls are harder lately."
- Ask which situations feel hardest for them.
- Expect it to take more than one conversation.
Changing how the family talks
- Face the person so they can see your face and lips.
- Speak a little louder without shouting, and slow down slightly.
- Turn off background noise such as the TV during conversation.
- In restaurants, choose a quiet seat.
Supporting a hearing test
Offer to help book it, or to come along as a second pair of ears. Preparing for a hearing test has a checklist you can fill in together. Afterwards, how to read an audiogram helps you both follow the results.
Options worth knowing about
Depending on the results, options include hearing aids, cochlear implants for severe or profound loss, and assistive listening devices such as amplifiers, apps and hearing loops. Hearing the TV is a common first win at home.
Respecting their decisions
Your parent decides about tests and devices. Pressure tends to delay things. Keep the door open, keep adapting how you talk, and come back to it.
Key takeaways
- Age-related hearing loss is gradual, so parents may not notice it.
- Raise it gently, in private, with concrete situations.
- Face them, speak clearly without shouting, cut background noise.
- Offer to help with a hearing test, and go along if they want.
- The decisions stay with them.
Questions and answers
What if my parent refuses a hearing test?
Keep the conversation open, focus on specific situations they find hard, and keep making communication easier. Pressure usually backfires.
Should I talk louder all the time?
A little louder, but not shouting. Facing them, slowing down and reducing noise usually help more than volume.
Sources and further reading
This page draws on the following sources.
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This information is general and does not replace an examination by a qualified professional.