It’s a common first response – denial. Of course, my loved one’s hearing loss isn’t as advanced as it seems. She’s not old enough for a hearing aid.
It’s possible, the both of you have begun to joke 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 it’s beginning to become less and less humorous. You’re beginning to think that perhaps your spouse, brother, or parent is either ignoring you or actually having difficulty hearing.
You want your loved one to have a healthy, active, and happy life for many years so it’s probably time to be supportive and help them seek out the appropriate help.
If somebody you know needs hearing aids they will probably be showing these 4 common signs.
1. She’s more tired than normal particularly when you go out
Perhaps you believe that it just ordinarily happens when you get older. Your loved one used to have much more energy. When she says she just doesn’t feel like going out tonight, you try to understand.
You really start to suspect that something isn’t right when she begins missing meetings with clubs, organizations, and hobby groups she’s always loved. Your loved one’s energy seems to be drained by loud settings. If there is lots of background noise, or if more than one conversation is happening at the same time, this is particularly true.
Individuals who are straining to hear put excess 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 additional energy is actually exhausting the brain not strengthening it. In social situations, fatigue will often seem to shut your loved one down.
If you’re not personally experiencing the same thing, don’t assume you can relate to what she’s going through. Her feelings might be the result of a number of factors. In order to get to the root of the problem, ask her questions and advocate for a hearing test.
2. She always cranks the TV up too loud
Frequently, you will notice this symptom first. Whenever they listen to music or watch TV, they turn it up really loud.
You walk into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just walked into a 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 outside.
She might turn it down when you tell her it’s too loud. But actually, she turned closed captions on.
She might not want to admit that she really can’t hear the TV. If this is occurring a lot, it may be time for you to recommend a hearing test.
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 zoned in on something. If it’s occurring more often than that, pay attention.
Likewise, take notice if she seems to have a lot of trouble hearing when she’s using the phone.
Is she griping about people mumbling or low-talking constantly? Does she frequently need people to repeat what they said? If so, it’s time to have that loving conversation about how much better life is with hearing aids.
4. Your relationship is feeling tense
Couples argue two times as much when one of them is dealing with hearing loss, according to research. These arguments might center around TV volume, misconceptions, or what one says the other person did or didn’t say.
When someone isn’t able to hear, there will be much more stress in a household. They get frustrated about their hearing loss. Others get upset when they won’t get help. This often leads to people deciding to spend more time apart due to more hurt feelings.
Many couples don’t recognize 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.
Simply getting a hearing test can give you a completely new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re talking about a spouse, sibling, or dear friend. Encourage your loved one to call for an appointment.
If somebody has hearing loss, hearing aids can improve their lives and most will state they would never go back. In fact, they regret they waited so long to get them in the first place. They feel happier, healthier, and more active.
It’s not an easy talk to have. But the difficulty of this discussion is worth it when your loved one finally gets the help they need.
Need more practical ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us today!