Denial is a common first response. Of course, my loved one’s hearing loss isn’t as advanced as it seems. She’s not old enough to need a hearing aid.
Maybe, it’s become a joke between the two of you. Your loved one constantly asks you to repeat yourself. You laugh about it as if it’s simply a game. But this game is getting old fast. You’re starting to believe that perhaps your spouse, brother, or parent is either dismissing you or really having trouble hearing.
You want your loved one to have a balanced, active, and happy life for many years so it’s likely time to be supportive and help them find the appropriate help.
If someone you know needs hearing aids they will most likely be showing these 4 common signs.
1. She’s more tired than usual especially when you go out
Perhaps you think that it just ordinarily happens when you age. 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 begin to suspect 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 especially true.
Additional energy is required to hear and comprehend what people are saying when somebody is coping with hearing issues. As a result, energy is transferred from other essential brain functions like physical movement, memory, and talking.
This use of additional energy is actually exhausting the brain not strengthening it. In social settings, exhaustion will often seem to shut your loved one down.
Don’t presume you understand what she’s experiencing. It could be a mix of things. But ask questions. Get to the base cause and recommend that she gets her hearing tested.
2. She always cranks the TV up really loud
This is often one of the first signs that you may notice in another person. 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 theater. You feel like you should have some popcorn, but it’s just your loved one blowing your ears out with the TV. Your neighbors are even able to hear it.
She might turn it down when you inform her it’s too loud. Then you notice that she just turned on the captions.
She may not want to acknowledge that she really can’t hear the TV. If this is happening a lot, it might be time for you to recommend a hearing exam.
3. She says, “What?”… a lot
It might not be an issue if you are in a very loud setting or she’s really zoned in on something. But you should be mindful if this is happening often.
Likewise, take notice if she seems to have a lot of difficulty hearing when she’s on the phone.
Is she always frustrated because she thinks people are talking too low or mumbling? Is she requesting that people repeat themselves? If so, it’s time to have that loving conversation about how much better life is with hearing aids.
4. Your relationship is feeling strained
Couples argue twice as much when one of them is dealing with hearing loss, according to research. They may argue about what one of them did or didn’t say, the volume of the TV, or other misunderstandings.
In general, there’s just more stress in a household when someone can’t hear. Their hearing loss is frustrating. Others get upset when they won’t go in for help. This frequently leads to people choosing to spend more time apart because of more hurt feelings.
Many couples don’t realize that hearing loss is the trigger, and this can damage their relationship irreparably. It’s important to get the proper help because even moderate hearing loss can strain relationships.
Whether it’s a friend, sibling, or partner, you can get new perspective on your relationships by getting a simple hearing test. Speak with your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
If someone has hearing loss, hearing aids can improve their lives and most will say they would never go back. As a matter of fact, they regret they waited so long to get them in the first place. Their general quality of life will be significantly improved.
It’s not an easy discussion to have. But when your loved one finally gets the help they need it will all have been worth it.
Need more practical ideas about how to handle your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us today!