Denial is a typical first response. My loved one must be just making it seem like their hearing loss is worse than it really is. She’s too young to need a hearing aid.
Perhaps, it’s become a joke between the two of you. She is always asking you to repeat what you said. You laugh about it as if it’s simply a game. But this game is getting old fast. You question whether she’s just disregarding you or if she may actually be having some genuine hearing trouble.
It’s time to be supportive and make sure your loved one gets the care they need to continue to live a happy, healthy, active lifestyle even into their senior years.
Here are 4 common signs that somebody you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She’s more tired than normal particularly when you go out
Maybe you think that it just normally occurs when you age. Your loved one used to have much more energy. You try to relate when she says that she’s not going out tonight.
Then she begins skipping meetings with a hobby group, organization, or club that she’s always enjoyed, even when they meet virtually, and you begin to realize something may be wrong. Loud noise seems to sap your loved one’s energy. This is particularly true if they’re in a situation where there is more than one conversation happening, or there’s a lot of background noise.
Individuals who are struggling to hear put excess energy toward comprehending those around them. As a result, energy is transferred from other important brain functions like physical mobility, memory, and speaking.
Utilizing this extra brainpower doesn’t strengthen the brain; it just makes it tired. Your loved one will often seem to shut down with fatigue in social settings.
If you aren’t personally experiencing the same thing, don’t assume you can relate to what she’s going through. Her feelings might be the result of a number of factors. But ask questions. Get to the root cause and suggest that she gets her hearing tested.
2. She likes the TV LOUD
Often, you will notice this symptom first. Whenever they listen to music or watch TV, they turn it up really loud.
Your living room sounds like a cinema. You suddenly get the impulse to make some popcorn, except you find that she’s just watching a reality show or documentary at a volume that almost makes you cringe. You can even hear it from outside.
When you say that the TV is too loud, she might laugh and lower the volume. Then you notice that she just turned on the captions.
Perhaps she’s ashamed about it. It’s likely time for you to suggest a hearing exam if this is a frequent thing.
3. She says, “What?”… a lot
If you’re in a really loud environment like a concert or movie theater or she’s really focused on a movie, then it may be nothing. But you should pay closer attention if this is occurring often.
Also, if she’s struggling to hear phone calls you should pay attention.
Is she griping about people muttering or low-talking constantly? Is she asking people to repeat themselves? It’s time for a compassionate chat about the advantages of hearing aids.
4. Your relationship is feeling strained
Researchers have found that couples, where one has hearing loss, have about 50% more arguments. These quarrels might center around TV volume, misconceptions, 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 leads to lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart or alone.
This can cause irreversible harm to the relationship and the couple frequently doesn’t even realize that hearing loss is the reason. 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 totally new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re dealing with a spouse, sister, or dear friend. Speak with your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
People who recognize they need hearing aids and wear them say they’d never go back. Usually, they wish they wouldn’t have waited so long. They feel healthier, happier, and more energetic.
It’s not a comfortable talk to have. But the challenge of this discussion is worth it when your loved one finally gets the assistance they need.
Need more useful ideas about how to handle your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us right away!
