Denial is a typical 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 require a hearing aid.
It’s possible, the both of you have started to kid around with each other about it. She is always asking you to repeat what you said. You joke about it like it’s simply a game. But this game is getting old fast. You’re starting to believe that maybe your partner, brother, or parent is either dismissing you or really having difficulty hearing.
You want your loved one to have a balanced, active, and happy life for many years so it’s likely time to be encouraging and help them find the appropriate help.
Here are 4 common signs that someone you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She seems fatigued, particularly in public
You may think it’s just a sign of aging. Your loved one used to have a lot more energy. When she says she just doesn’t feel like going out tonight, you try to understand.
Then she begins missing meetings with a hobby group, organization, or club that she’s always loved, even when they meet virtually, and you start to realize something could be wrong. Your loved one’s energy seems to be depleted by loud settings. This is particularly true if they are in a situation where there’s more than one conversation happening, or there’s a lot of background noise.
Individuals who are struggling to hear put excess energy toward comprehending those around them. As a result, energy is taken from other important brain functions like physical movement, memory, and talking.
This use of extra energy is actually exhausting the brain not strengthening it. Your loved one will often seem to shut down with fatigue in social settings.
Don’t presume you know what she’s experiencing. It may be a combination of things. But ask questions. Get to the base cause and suggest that she gets her hearing tested.
2. She watches the TV LOUD
This is often one of the first signs that you may notice in another person. Whenever they play music or watch TV, they crank it up really loud.
Your living room sounds like a movie theater. You suddenly get the urge to make some popcorn, except you realize that she’s just watching a reality show or documentary at a volume that almost makes you cringe. You can even hear it from outdoors.
When you say that the TV is too loud, she may chuckle and lower the volume. Then you realize that she just switched on the captions.
Perhaps she’s embarrassed about it. It’s probably time for you to suggest a hearing exam if this is a frequent thing.
3. She frequently needs people to repeat what they said
If you’re in a really loud environment like a concert or theater or she’s really concentrated on a movie, then it might be nothing. If it’s occurring more often than that, pay attention.
Also, if she’s struggling to hear phone conversations you should pay attention.
Is she constantly annoyed because she thinks people are speaking too low or muttering? Is she asking people to repeat themselves? It’s time for a compassionate talk about the advantages of hearing aids.
4. You’re feeling a tension in the relationship
Couples argue twice as much when one of them is dealing with hearing loss, according to research. These quarrels might be about TV volume, misunderstandings, or what one says the other person may or may not have said.
When someone isn’t able to hear, there will be much more tension in a household. Their hearing loss is stressful. And their refusal to get help is frustrating to others. This brings about lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart or alone.
This can lead to irreversible damage to the relationship and the couple often 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 totally new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re dealing with a spouse, sister, or dear friend. Speak with your loved one about getting a hearing test.
Individuals who recognize they need hearing aids and wear them say they’d never go back. Normally, they wish they wouldn’t have waited so long. They feel healthier, happier, and more active.
It can be a challenging conversation to have. But the challenge of this conversation is worth it when your loved one finally finds the assistance they need.
Need more useful ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us today!