It’s a normal first response – denial. Of course, my loved one’s hearing loss isn’t as bad as it seems. She’s not old enough for a hearing aid.
Perhaps, it’s become a joke between the two of you. She is always requesting that you repeat what you said. You joke about it like it’s just a game. But it’s beginning to become less and less funny. You’re beginning to believe that perhaps your spouse, brother, or parent is either dismissing you or actually having trouble hearing.
It’s time to be supportive and make sure your loved one receives the care they need to continue to live a happy, healthy, active life well into their older age.
If somebody you know needs hearing aids they will most likely be showing these 4 common signs.
1. She’s more tired than usual particularly when you go out
Perhaps you believe that it just ordinarily happens when you get older. Your loved one really doesn’t have as much energy as they once did. When she says she isn’t feeling like going out tonight, you try to understand.
Then she starts skipping meetings with a hobby group, organization, or club that she’s always loved, even when they get together virtually, and you start to realize something may be wrong. Your loved one’s energy seems to be drained by loud environments. This is particularly true if they’re in a situation where there’s more than one conversation happening, or there’s lots of background noise.
Individuals who are struggling to hear put excess energy toward understanding people around them. They often have to draw this energy from other brain functions such as memory, speaking, and moving.
This use of extra energy is actually exhausting the brain not strengthening it. Your loved one will frequently seem to shut down with fatigue in social situations.
Don’t presume you know what she’s dealing with. It could be a mix of things. In order to get to the bottom of the issue, ask her questions and advocate for a hearing assessment.
2. She always cranks the TV up too loud
This is frequently one of the first indications that you might notice in another person. They can’t seem to watch TV or play music at a healthy volume.
You walk into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just entered a theater. You instantly get the urge to make some popcorn, except you find that she’s just watching a reality show or documentary at a volume that almost blows your ears out. You can even hear it from outside.
She may turn it down when you tell her it’s too loud. But it turns out, she turned closed captions on.
She may not want to admit that she actually can’t hear the TV. It’s probably time for you to suggest a hearing exam if this is a regular 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 focused on a movie, then it may be nothing. If it’s happening more frequently than that, pay attention.
Likewise, take notice if she seems to have a lot of difficulty hearing when she’s on the phone.
Is she constantly frustrated because she thinks people are talking too low or muttering? Is she requesting that people repeat themselves? If so, it’s time to have that loving chat about how much better life is with hearing aids.
4. You’re feeling a tension in the relationship
Couples argue two times as much when one of them is dealing with hearing loss, according to research. These quarrels may center around TV volume, misunderstandings, or what one claims the other person may or may not have said.
When somebody isn’t able to hear, there will be a lot more tension in a household. They get frustrated about their hearing loss. Others get frustrated when they won’t get help. This leads to lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart or alone.
This can cause irreversible damage to the relationship and the couple frequently doesn’t even comprehend that hearing loss is the reason. Even moderate hearing loss can strain a relationship, so it pays to get it checked out.
Whether it’s a friend, sibling, or spouse, you can get new perspective on your relationships by getting a simple hearing test. Speak with your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
People who discover they need hearing aids and wear them say they’d never go back. Typically, they wish they would have done it sooner. They feel happier, healthier, and more energetic.
It isn’t an easy discussion 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!
