Denial is a common first response. My loved one must be simply making it seem like their hearing loss is worse than it actually is. She’s too young to need a hearing aid.
Perhaps, it’s become a joke between the two of you. Your loved one always asks you to repeat yourself. It’s only a game. You laugh about it. But this game is getting old quickly. You wonder if she’s simply ignoring you or if she might actually be having some genuine hearing trouble.
You want your loved one to have a healthy, energetic, and joyful life for years to come so it’s likely time to be supportive and help them seek out the appropriate help.
Here are 4 common indications that somebody you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She appears to be exhausted, especially in public
Maybe you think that it just normally happens when you age. Your loved one just doesn’t have as much energy as they used to. When she says she just doesn’t feel like going out tonight, you try to be patient.
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. 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.
Additional energy is required to hear and understand what people are saying when someone is struggling with hearing issues. Consequently, energy is taken from other essential brain functions like physical mobility, memory, and talking.
This use of additional energy is actually exhausting the brain not strengthening it. In social situations, fatigue will often seem to shut your loved one down.
If you’re not going through the same thing, don’t presume you can relate to what she’s going through. Her feelings might be due to numerous factors. In order to get to the bottom of the issue, ask her questions and advocate for a hearing exam.
2. She likes the TV LOUD
Often, you will identify this symptom first. Whenever they listen to music or watch TV, they turn it up very loud.
You walk into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just entered 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 tell her it’s too loud. But it turns out, she turned closed captions on.
Maybe she’s embarrassed about it. If this is happening a lot, it might 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 environment or she’s really zoned in on something. But you should pay closer attention if this is happening often.
Also, if she’s straining to hear phone conversations you should pay attention.
Is she griping about people mumbling or talking low constantly? Does she frequently need people to repeat what they said? It’s time for a compassionate talk about the advantages of hearing aids.
4. You’re feeling a rift in the relationship
Researchers have found that couples, where one has hearing loss, have about 50% more arguments. They may argue about what one of them may or may not have said, the volume of the TV, or other misconceptions.
When somebody can’t hear, there will be a lot more stress in a household. They get frustrated about their hearing loss. Others get upset when they won’t get help. This often results in people choosing to spend more time apart because of more hurt feelings.
This can cause permanent damage to the relationship and the couple frequently doesn’t even realize that hearing loss is the cause. Even moderate hearing loss can strain a relationship, so it pays to get it checked out.
Simply getting a hearing exam can give you a completely new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re dealing with a spouse, sister, or dear friend. Talk to your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
If somebody 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 didn’t get them sooner. They feel happier, healthier, and more active.
It’s not a comfortable talk to have. But when your loved one finally gets the help they require it will all have been worth it.
Need more practical ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us today!