Denial is a common first reaction. Of course, my loved one’s hearing loss isn’t as advanced as it seems. She’s not old enough for a hearing aid.
Maybe, it’s become a joke between the two of you. She is always asking you to repeat what you said. It’s just a game. You laugh about it. But this game is getting old fast. You’re beginning to think that maybe your spouse, brother, or parent is either dismissing you or really having trouble 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.
Here are 4 prevalent indications that somebody you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She’s more drained than normal particularly when you go out
Perhaps you think that it just normally occurs when you get older. Your loved one used to have much more energy. You try to understand when she says that won’t be going out tonight.
Then she starts missing meetings with a hobby group, organization, or club that she’s always loved, even when they meet virtually, and you begin to realize something could be wrong. Your loved one’s energy seems to be drained by loud environments. If there is a lot of background noise, or if more than one conversation is happening simultaneously, this is especially true.
People who are straining to hear put excessive energy toward comprehending people around them. They often have to draw this energy from other brain functions like memory, speaking, and moving.
Utilizing this extra brainpower doesn’t strengthen the brain; it just makes it tired. In social settings, exhaustion will often seem to shut your loved one down.
Don’t presume you understand what she’s experiencing. It may be a combination of things. But ask questions. Get to the base cause and recommend that she get a hearing test.
2. She likes the TV LOUD
This is frequently one of the first indications that you might identify in another person. They can’t seem to watch TV or play music at a normal volume.
Your living room sounds like a movie theater. You suddenly get the impulse 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 inform her it’s too loud. Then you realize that she just switched on the captions.
She might not want to admit that she really can’t hear the TV. If this is happening a lot, it may be time for you to suggest a hearing assessment.
3. She says, “What?”… a lot
It might not be an issue if you are in a really loud environment or she’s really focused on something. But you should pay closer attention if this is happening often.
Furthermore, if she’s struggling to hear phone calls you should pay attention.
Is she complaining about people mumbling or talking low constantly? Is she asking people to repeat themselves? If so, it’s time to have that loving conversation 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. They might argue about what one of them may or may not have said, the volume of the TV, or other misconceptions.
When someone isn’t able to hear, there will be much more stress in a household. Their hearing loss is stressful. Others get frustrated when they won’t go in for help. This frequently leads to people choosing to spend more time alone because of more hurt feelings.
This can lead to permanent damage to the relationship and the couple often doesn’t even comprehend that hearing loss is the cause. 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 simply getting a hearing test. Encourage your loved one to schedule an appointment.
People who discover they need hearing aids and use them say they’d never go back. Normally, they wish they would have done it sooner. Their general quality of life will be greatly improved.
It’s not an easy talk to have. But the challenge of this discussion is worth it when your loved one finally finds the help they need.
Call us right away and let us help you with some ideas about how to tackle your loved one’s hearing loss!