It’s a normal first reaction – denial. My loved one must be simply making it seem as if their hearing loss is worse than it actually is. She’s not old enough for a hearing aid.
It’s possible, the both of you have begun to joke around with one another about it. Your loved one always asks you to speak up. It’s just a game. You laugh about it. But this game is getting old quickly. You’re beginning to think that perhaps your partner, sibling, or parent is either dismissing you or really 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.
If somebody you know needs hearing aids they will probably be exhibiting these 4 prevalent signs.
1. She seems exhausted, especially in public
Perhaps you think that it just ordinarily happens when you get 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 start to think that something isn’t right when she begins skipping meetings with clubs, organizations, and hobby groups she’s always loved. Loud noise seems to deplete your loved one’s energy. If there is a lot of background noise, or if more than one conversation is taking place at the same time, this is particularly true.
People who are struggling to hear put excessive energy toward comprehending those around them. As a result, energy is transferred from other essential brain functions like physical movement, memory, and talking.
This use of extra energy is actually exhausting the brain not strengthening it. Your loved one will frequently seem to shut down with exhaustion in social settings.
If you aren’t personally experiencing the same thing, don’t assume you can relate to what she’s dealing with. It could be a combination of things. But ask questions. Get to the underlying cause and recommend that she gets her hearing tested.
2. She likes the TV LOUD
This is frequently one of the first signs that you may notice in another person. They can’t seem to watch TV or play music at a healthy volume.
Your living room sounds like a cinema. You suddenly get the urge to make some popcorn, except you realize that she’s just watching a reality show or documentary at a volume that almost blows your ears out. Your neighbors can even hear it.
She may turn it down when you inform her it’s too loud. Then you realize that she just turned on the captions.
Maybe she’s ashamed about it. If this is occurring a lot, it may be time for you to suggest a hearing exam.
3. She often needs people to repeat themselves
It might not be an issue if you are in a really loud setting or she’s really focused on something. If it’s occurring more often than that, pay attention.
Likewise, pay attention if she seems to have a lot of trouble hearing when she’s using the phone.
Is she always aggravated because she thinks people are talking too quietly or mumbling? Does she frequently need people to repeat what they said? If so, it’s time to have that loving conversation about how much better life is with hearing aids.
4. You’re feeling a rift in the relationship
Couples argue two times as much when one of them has hearing loss, according to research. These quarrels might be about TV volume, misunderstandings, or what one claims the other person may or may not have said.
In general, there’s just more stress in a household when someone can’t hear. They get frustrated about their hearing loss. Others get upset when they won’t get help. This leads to lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart and alone.
Many couples don’t recognize that hearing loss is the trigger, and this can damage their relationship irreparably. Even moderate hearing loss can strain a relationship, so it pays to get it checked out.
Whether it’s a friend, sibling, or spouse, you can get new perspective on your relationships by simply getting a hearing test. Speak with your loved one about getting a hearing test.
If someone has hearing loss, hearing aids can change their lives and most will say they would never go back. In fact, they regret they didn’t get them sooner. They feel happier, healthier, and more active.
It can be a challenging conversation to have. But when your loved one finally gets the help they require it will all have been worth it.
Need more useful ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us right away!