Denial is a typical 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 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 joke about it like it’s simply a game. But it’s starting to become less and less humorous. 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 sure your loved one gets the care they need to continue to live a happy, healthy, active life even into their older age.
Here are 4 prevalent indications that somebody you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She’s more tired than normal particularly when you go out
Perhaps you think that it just ordinarily happens 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.
You really begin to think that something isn’t right when she starts skipping meetings with clubs, organizations, and hobby groups she’s always loved. Loud noise seems to sap your loved one’s energy. If there is lots of background noise, or if more than one conversation is taking place at the same time, this is particularly true.
Individuals who are straining to hear put excessive energy toward comprehending those around them. They frequently have to pull this energy from other functions in the brain such as memory, speaking, and moving.
This use of extra energy is actually fatiguing the brain not strengthening it. Your loved one will often seem to shut down with exhaustion in social settings.
Don’t presume you know what she’s dealing with. Her feelings might be attributable to 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
This is often one of the first indications that you may notice in another person. Whenever they listen to music or watch TV, they crank it up very loud.
You walk into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just walked into a movie theater. You feel like you should make 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. Then you notice that she just turned on the captions.
She might not want to admit that she actually can’t hear the TV. It’s probably time for you to recommend a hearing test if this is a frequent thing.
3. She often needs people to repeat themselves
If you’re in a really loud setting like a concert or theater or she’s really focused on a movie, then it might be nothing. But you should pay closer attention if this is happening frequently.
Similarly, take notice if she seems to have a lot of trouble hearing when she’s using the phone.
Is she complaining about people mumbling or low-talking 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 discovered that couples, where one is dealing with hearing loss, have about 50% more arguments. These arguments might be about TV volume, misconceptions, or what one says the other person may or may not have said.
Overall, there’s just more stress in a household when somebody can’t hear. They get frustrated about their hearing loss. And their refusal to get help is frustrating to others. This often leads to people choosing to spend more time apart due to more hurt feelings.
Many couples don’t recognize that hearing loss is the trigger, and this can harm their relationship irreparably. Even moderate hearing loss can strain a relationship, so it pays to get it checked out.
Whether it’s a friend, sibling, or partner, you can get new perspective on your relationships by simply getting a hearing test. Encourage your loved one to schedule an appointment.
People who realize they need hearing aids and use 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 can be a difficult conversation to have. But the challenge of this conversation is worth it when your loved one finally finds the assistance they need.
Need more practical ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us today!