It’s a normal first reaction – denial. Surely, my loved one’s hearing loss isn’t as bad as it seems. She’s not old enough to need a hearing aid.
Perhaps, it’s become a joke between both of you. She is always requesting that you repeat what you said. It’s just a game. You laugh about it. But this game is getting old fast. You wonder if she’s just ignoring you or if she might actually be having some genuine hearing trouble.
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 life well into their older age.
If somebody you know needs hearing aids they will most likely be showing these 4 prevalent signs.
1. She appears to be fatigued, particularly in public
You might think it’s just an indication of aging. Your loved one really doesn’t have as much energy as they once did. You try to understand when she says that she’s not going out tonight.
You really begin to suspect that something isn’t right when she begins missing meetings with clubs, organizations, and hobby groups she’s always enjoyed. Your loved one’s energy seems to be depleted by loud settings. This is particularly true if they are in a situation where there’s more than one discussion going on, or there’s lots of background noise.
Additional energy is required to hear and comprehend what people are saying when someone is dealing with hearing problems. They frequently have to pull this energy from other functions in the brain like memory, talking, and moving.
Utilizing this additional brainpower doesn’t strengthen the brain; it just tires it out. Your loved one will frequently seem to shut down with fatigue in social settings.
Don’t presume you know what she’s experiencing. Her feelings might be due to numerous factors. But ask questions. Get to the root cause and suggest that she get a hearing test.
2. She watches the TV LOUD
This is often one of the first signs that you might identify in another person. 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 walked into a movie theater. You instantly 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 makes you cringe. Your neighbors are even able to hear it.
When you suggest that the TV is too loud, she might chuckle and turn it down. Then you notice that she just turned on the captions.
She may not want to admit that she actually can’t hear the TV. If this is happening a lot, it may be time for you to suggest a hearing test.
3. She says, “What?”… a lot
It may not be a problem if you are in a really loud setting or she’s really focused on something. But you should pay closer attention if this is occurring often.
Likewise, pay attention if she seems to have a lot of trouble hearing when she’s using the phone.
Is she griping about people mumbling or talking low constantly? Is she asking people to repeat themselves? If so, it’s time to have that loving chat about how much more enjoyable life is with hearing aids.
4. Your relationship is feeling tense
Couples argue two times as much when one of them is dealing with 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.
When somebody isn’t able to hear, there will be a lot more tension in a household. They get aggravated about their hearing loss. And their refusal to get help is frustrating to others. This frequently results in people choosing to spend more time alone due to more hurt feelings.
Many couples don’t realize that hearing loss is the cause, and this can damage their relationship irreparably. Even moderate hearing loss can strain a relationship, so it pays to get it checked out.
The simple act of getting a hearing test can give you a completely new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re talking about a spouse, sibling, or dear friend. Talk to your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
If someone has hearing loss, hearing aids can improve their lives and most will state they would never go back. In fact, they regret they waited so long to get them in the first place. They feel happier, healthier, and more active.
It can be a difficult talk to have. But when your loved one finally finds the help they require it will all have been worth it.
Call us right away and let us help you with some ideas about how to tackle your loved one’s hearing loss!