It’s a common first reaction – denial. Of course, my loved one’s hearing loss isn’t as bad as it seems. She’s not old enough for a hearing aid.
It’s possible, the both of you have started to joke around with one another about it. She is always requesting that you repeat what you said. You joke about it like it’s just a game. But it’s beginning to become less and less funny. You wonder if she’s just disregarding you or if she might actually be having some legit hearing trouble.
It’s time to be supportive and make certain your loved one receives the care they need to continue to live a happy, healthy, active life even into their older age.
If somebody you know needs hearing aids they will probably be exhibiting these 4 common signs.
1. She seems fatigued, especially in public
Perhaps you think that it just ordinarily happens when you get older. Your loved one used to have much more energy. You try to relate when she says that she’s not 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 drain your loved one’s energy. If there is a lot of background noise, or if more than one conversation is taking place simultaneously, this is particularly true.
Additional energy is needed to hear and comprehend what people are saying when someone is struggling with hearing issues. As a result, energy is transferred from other important brain functions like physical movement, memory, and talking.
Using this extra brainpower doesn’t strengthen the brain; it just makes it tired. Your loved one will frequently seem to shut down with fatigue in social situations.
Don’t presume you know what she’s experiencing. Her feelings may be the result of a number of factors. But ask questions. Get to the base cause and suggest that she get a hearing test.
2. She likes the TV LOUD
This is frequently one of the first indications that you might perceive in another person. They can’t seem to watch TV or listen to music at a healthy volume.
Your living room sounds like a movie theater. You feel like you should have 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 inform her it’s too loud. But it turns out, she turned on closed captions.
She may not want to admit that she really can’t hear the TV. It’s likely time for you to recommend a hearing assessment if this is a frequent thing.
3. She says, “What?”… a lot
It might not be an issue if you are in a very loud setting or she’s really focused on something. If it’s occurring more often than that, be aware.
Likewise, take notice if she seems to have a lot of difficulty hearing when she’s using the phone.
Is she griping about people muttering or low-talking constantly? Is she asking people to repeat themselves? If so, it’s time to have that loving discussion about how much better life is with hearing aids.
4. You’re feeling a tension in the relationship
Couples argue twice as much when one of them has hearing loss, according to research. These arguments may center around TV volume, misconceptions, or what one claims the other person did or didn’t say.
When someone can’t hear, there will be a lot more tension in a household. Their hearing loss is stressful. 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 harm 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 partner, you can get new perspective on your relationships by simply getting a hearing test. Talk to 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 waited so long to get them in the first place. They feel healthier, happier, and more energetic.
It isn’t a comfortable talk to have. But the difficulty of this conversation is worth it when your loved one finally finds the help they need.
Need more helpful ideas about how to handle your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us right away!