Denial is a common first reaction. My loved one must be simply making it seem as if their hearing loss is worse than it really is. She’s too young to need a hearing aid.
Maybe, it’s become a joke between the two of you. She is always asking you to repeat what you said. You joke about it like it’s simply a game. But this game is getting old fast. You’re beginning to believe that perhaps your spouse, sibling, or parent is either dismissing you or actually having trouble hearing.
It’s time to be supportive and make certain your loved one gets the care they need to continue to live a happy, healthy, active lifestyle even into their older age.
Here are 4 common signs that someone you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She appears to be fatigued, particularly in public
You may think it’s just an indication of getting older. Your loved one really doesn’t have as much energy as they once did. You try to understand when she says that won’t be going out tonight.
You really begin to suspect that something isn’t right when she starts skipping meetings with clubs, organizations, and hobby groups she’s always loved. Your loved one’s energy seems to be drained by loud environments. If there is lots of background noise, or if more than one conversation is taking place simultaneously, this is especially true.
Additional energy is required to hear and comprehend what people are saying when somebody is dealing with hearing issues. They often have to draw this energy from other functions in the brain like memory, talking, and moving.
This use of additional energy is actually fatiguing the brain not strengthening it. In social settings, fatigue will often seem to shut your loved one down.
Don’t assume you know what she’s dealing with. It may be a mix of things. In order to get to the bottom of the problem, ask her questions and advocate for a hearing test.
2. She watches the TV LOUD
Frequently, you will identify this symptom first. They can’t seem to watch TV or play music at a normal volume.
You go into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just entered a theater. You feel like you should make some popcorn, but it’s just your loved one blowing your ears out with the TV. You can even hear it from outdoors.
She may turn it down when you tell her it’s too loud. But it turns out, she turned closed captions on.
She might not want to acknowledge that she actually can’t hear the TV. If this is happening a lot, it might be time for you to suggest a hearing test.
3. She says, “What?”… a lot
If you’re in a really loud setting like a concert or theater or she’s really focused on a movie, then it may be nothing. But you should be mindful if this is occurring frequently.
Also, if she’s straining to hear phone conversations you should take note.
Is she complaining about people mumbling or talking low constantly? Is she asking people to repeat themselves? If so, it’s time to have that loving conversation about how much better life is with hearing aids.
4. You’re feeling a tension in the relationship
Couples argue two times as much when one of them has hearing loss, according to research. These quarrels may be about TV volume, misunderstandings, or what one says the other person did or didn’t say.
Overall, there’s just more stress in a household when somebody can’t hear. Their hearing loss is frustrating. And their refusal to seek out help is frustrating to others. This frequently leads to people choosing to spend more time apart because of more hurt feelings.
Many couples don’t realize that hearing loss is the cause, and this can damage their relationship irreparably. It’s important to get the proper help because even moderate hearing loss can strain relationships.
Whether it’s a friend, sibling, or spouse, you can get new perspective on your relationships by getting a simple hearing test. Encourage your loved one to schedule an appointment.
If someone has hearing loss, hearing aids can change their lives and most will state they would never go back. Usually, they wish they wouldn’t have waited so long. They feel healthier, happier, and more energetic.
It can be a challenging conversation to have. But when your loved one finally finds the help they need it will all have been worth it.
Need more helpful ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us right away!