Denial is a common first reaction. My loved one must be just making it seem like their hearing loss is more severe than it actually is. She’s too young to require a hearing aid.
Perhaps, it’s become a joke between the two of you. Your loved one constantly asks you to speak up. It’s just a game. You joke about it. But it’s beginning to become less and less funny. You’re starting to believe that maybe your partner, brother, or parent is either dismissing you or actually having difficulty hearing.
It’s time to be supportive and make certain your loved one gets the care they need to keep living a happy, healthy, active life even into their senior years.
If someone you know needs hearing aids they will most likely be showing these 4 prevalent signs.
1. She’s more tired than usual especially when you go out
You might believe it’s just an indication of getting older. Your loved one used to have a lot more energy. You try to understand when she says that won’t be going out tonight.
You really begin to think that something isn’t right when she starts skipping meetings with clubs, organizations, and hobby groups she’s always enjoyed. Your loved one’s energy seems to be drained by loud settings. If there is a lot of background noise, or if more than one conversation is taking place simultaneously, this is particularly true.
Extra energy is needed to hear and understand what people are saying when someone is coping with hearing problems. As a result, energy is transferred from other essential brain functions like physical movement, memory, and speaking.
This use of extra energy is actually exhausting the brain not strengthening it. Your loved one will often seem to shut down with fatigue in social settings.
Don’t assume you understand what she’s experiencing. It may be a mix of things. But ask questions. Get to the base cause and recommend that she gets her hearing tested.
2. She always turns the TV up really loud
Frequently, you will notice this symptom first. They can’t seem to watch TV or listen to music at a healthy volume.
You walk into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just walked into 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.
When you suggest that the TV is too loud, she might chuckle and lower the volume. But it turns out, she turned closed captions on.
She might not want to admit that she actually can’t hear the TV. It’s probably time for you to recommend a hearing exam if this is a frequent thing.
3. She frequently needs people to repeat themselves
If you’re in a really loud setting like a concert or movie theater or she’s really concentrated on a movie, then it might be nothing. But you should be mindful if this is happening frequently.
Similarly, pay attention if she seems to have a lot of trouble hearing when she’s using the phone.
Is she always frustrated because she thinks people are talking too low or mumbling? Does she frequently need people to repeat what they said? It’s time for a compassionate talk about the benefits of hearing aids.
4. You’re feeling a tension in the relationship
Researchers have discovered that couples, where one has hearing loss, have about 50% more arguments. They may argue about what one of them did or didn’t say, the volume of the TV, or other misunderstandings.
When somebody isn’t able to hear, there will be a lot more stress in a household. They get frustrated about their hearing loss. And their refusal to seek out help is stressful to others. This leads to lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart and alone.
This can lead to permanent damage to the relationship and the couple frequently doesn’t even recognize that hearing loss is the cause. 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 dealing with a spouse, sister, or dear friend. Speak with your loved one about getting a hearing test.
Individuals who recognize they need hearing aids and wear them say they’d 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 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!