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Hearing loss and holidays: How to support your loved ones

Ameena Al-Jame joins Breakfast with Bridgett

ORLANDO, Fla. – News 6 is “Getting Results For Your Health” on “Breakfast With Bridgett.”

Thursday on the show, a hearing care professional explained the strains of hearing loss on loved ones around the holidays.

One in five Americans surveyed by Miracle-Ear admitted to staying isolated from family to avoid conversations due to their hearing loss.

In fact, 72% of respondents said hearing loss changed their behavior and involvement in plans around family activities.

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Ameena Al-Jame, a hearing care professional from Miracle-Ear, says there are ways to help family members with hearing loss feel more comfortable in hard-to-hear situations.

“Not only does the family feel frustration, but the person themselves feels that frustration and embarrassment. Some ways we can assist them is using more physical cues. The majority of us do some lip reading, so with someone with hard of hearing, lip reading is definitely going to help them,” she said. “Communication is what ties us all together. Being supportive to that family member, telling them about the health risks and educating them, you want to be the advocate for family members on hearing loss and how to prevent it.”

While over-the-counter hearing aids are now available to the public, Al-Jame says custom hearing aids offer a more tailored and effective solution.

Miracle-Ear also offers free hearing tests and the Gift of Hearing program for those who cannot afford hearing aids.

Learn more and watch the full interview at the top of this story.


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