9 out of 10 of us would feel upset if a family member was missing out on conversations or avoiding them altogether because of hearing loss.

1 in 3 say that a family member regularly doesn’t hear them or asks them to repeat themselves, but despite this many of us struggle to know the right way to speak to them about the issue. That’s why we’ve provided some top tips on how to start the conversation, if you think someone you love has hearing loss.

Take the RNID hearing check with a loved one

Our three tips for starting a conversation about hearing loss

With the expert help of family psychotherapist Dr Annette Wilson, we’ve put together these tips for having impactful conversations about hearing loss.

1. Choose the right time

Start the conversation at a relaxed moment – this isn’t one to start over dinner! Instead, pick a time when people are calm and not under stress, such as when you’re having a relaxed cuppa or out on a walk.

2. Tell them how simple the hearing check is

Rather than mentioning your concerns for their hearing health, start light by emphasising how simple it is to check your hearing with RNID’s hearing check.

3. Consider taking the hearing check yourself first

This way, you can talk about it from your own experience. Or, why not do the check along with your loved one? Find the check below.

Want to come back to this later?

Not everyone will be ready to take action on their hearing health straight away. Changes to our hearing health can at first feel scary to acknowledge.

If a loved one doesn’t want to do the test right now, come back to it at another time. We can email you a reminder – and our top tips from above – to help you have this conversation again.