Hearing loss doesn’t just affect the person who has it. It also affects spouses, family members and friends. From frustration with having to repeat things over and over, to heartbreak at seeing someone you care about isolate themselves from the people and activities they love – the negative effects of hearing loss cast a wide net.

Left untreated, hearing loss can affect a person’s quality of life in many ways. Yet without even realizing it, you may be making it easier for someone not to seek help. Well-intentioned efforts such as repeating yourself or “translating” what others are saying may be preventing your loved one from realizing how much communication they fail to understand or miss completely.

Ways to help:

• Gently remind your loved one of his or her loss every time you “translate” or repeat something for them.

• Share hearing information you find on websites like manhattanavenuehearingaids.com or hearing-aid.com.

• Offer to schedule and attend a hearing consultation with the person.

• Remind the person that he or she has nothing to lose and potentially everything to gain by seeing a hearing professional.

Don’t be surprised if you get resistance. Unlike eyesight, when hearing goes, people are in less of a hurry to do something about it – with many waiting five to seven years before seeking treatment. Be prepared for pushback with these responses:

My family doctor would have told me if I have hearing loss. Not true. Less than 20 percent of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during physicals

Wearing a hearing aid will make my hearing loss obvious. Today’s hearing aids are sleek, stylish and less noticeable than if you constantly ask people to repeat themselves, inappropriately respond to them or don’t respond at all.

A little hearing loss is no big deal. The fact is, studies have linked untreated hearing loss to stress, depression, social rejection, increased risk to personal safety and reduced earning power.

Don’t let another holiday season pass with your loved ones not being part of the conversation. Encourage an evaluation at one of our locations, and hearing aids can be fit before Christmas.

Manhattan Avenue Hearing Aids, Inc. has offices in Greenpoint, Brooklyn; Lynbrook, L.I. and the West Village in Manhattan. Call 917-856-2703 to schedule an appointment.