It’s a common first response – denial. My loved one must be simply making it seem as if their hearing loss is worse than it actually is. She’s not old enough for a hearing aid.
It’s possible, the both of you have begun to joke around with one another about it. She is always requesting that you repeat what you said. You joke about it like it’s just a game. But this game is getting old quickly. You wonder if she’s just ignoring you or if she may actually be having some legit hearing trouble.
You want your loved one to have a healthy, energetic, and happy life for many years so it’s probably time to be supportive and help them seek out the appropriate help.
Here are 4 prevalent indications that somebody you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She’s more tired than usual particularly when you go out
You might believe it’s simply an indication of aging. Your loved one used to have much more energy. You try to relate when she says that won’t be going out tonight.
You really begin to think that something isn’t right when she starts missing meetings with clubs, organizations, and hobby groups she’s always enjoyed. Your loved one’s energy seems to be depleted by loud settings. This is especially true if they’re in a situation where there is more than one conversation happening, or there’s lots of background noise.
Additional energy is required to hear and understand what people are saying when someone is coping with hearing issues. They often have to draw this energy from other brain functions such as memory, talking, and moving.
Using this extra brainpower doesn’t strengthen the brain; it just makes it tired. Your loved one will often seem to shut down with exhaustion in social settings.
If you aren’t going through the same thing, don’t assume you can relate to 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 exam.
2. She watches the TV LOUD
Frequently, you will notice this symptom first. Whenever they play music or watch TV, they turn it up really loud.
Your living room sounds like a movie 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. Your neighbors are even able to hear it.
When you suggest that the TV is too loud, she may laugh and lower the volume. Then you realize that she just turned on the captions.
Perhaps she’s embarrassed about it. If this is happening a lot, it may be time for you to suggest a hearing exam.
3. She frequently needs people to repeat themselves
It might not be a problem if you are in a really loud setting or she’s really focused on something. But you should pay closer attention if this is occurring often.
Furthermore, if she’s straining to hear phone conversations you should take note.
Is she griping about people mumbling or talking low constantly? Does she regularly need people to repeat what they said? It’s time for a compassionate chat about the advantages of hearing aids.
4. Your relationship is feeling strained
Couples argue twice as much when one of them has hearing loss, according to research. These arguments might be about TV volume, misunderstandings, or what one says the other person may or may not have said.
In general, there’s just more tension in a household when somebody can’t hear. They get aggravated about their hearing loss. Others get frustrated when they won’t go in for help. This leads to lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart or alone.
Many couples don’t realize that hearing loss is the trigger, and this can damage their relationship irreparably. Even moderate hearing loss can strain a relationship, so it pays to get it checked out.
The simple act of getting a hearing test can give you a totally new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re dealing with a spouse, sibling, or dear friend. Talk to your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
People who discover they need hearing aids and wear them say they’d 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 can be a challenging conversation to have. But when your loved one finally finds the help they require it will all have been worth it.
Need more helpful ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us today!