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 really is. She’s too young to require a hearing aid.
Maybe, the two of you have begun to joke around with one another about it. Your loved one always asks you to repeat yourself. You joke about it as if it’s just a game. But this game is getting old fast. You wonder if she’s simply ignoring you or if she might actually be having some genuine hearing trouble.
It’s time to be supportive and make certain your loved one receives the care they need to continue to live a happy, healthy, active lifestyle well into their senior years.
Here are 4 common indications that somebody you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She’s more tired than normal especially when you go out
You may think it’s simply an indication of getting 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 be patient.
Then she starts skipping meetings with a hobby group, organization, or club that she’s always enjoyed, even when they get together virtually, and you begin to recognize something may be wrong. Your loved one’s energy seems to be depleted by loud environments. This is especially true if they’re in a situation where there’s more than one conversation happening, or there’s lots of background noise.
Extra energy is needed to hear and comprehend what people are saying when someone is struggling with hearing issues. They frequently have to pull this energy from other brain functions like memory, speaking, and moving.
Utilizing this extra brainpower doesn’t strengthen the brain; it just tires it out. In social settings, fatigue will often seem to shut your loved one down.
Don’t assume you understand what she’s dealing with. Her feelings may be due to a number of factors. But ask questions. Get to the underlying cause and recommend that she gets her hearing tested.
2. She always cranks the TV up really loud
Frequently, you will identify this symptom first. They can’t seem to watch TV or listen to music at a normal volume.
You walk into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just entered a movie theater. You feel like you should have some popcorn, but it’s just your loved one blowing your ears out with the TV. Your neighbors are even able to hear it.
She might turn it down when you tell her it’s too loud. But it turns out, she turned closed captions on.
Perhaps she’s embarrassed about it. If this is occurring a lot, it might be time for you to recommend a hearing test.
3. She says, “What?”… a lot
It might not be an issue if you are in a very loud environment or she’s really zoned in on something. But you should pay closer attention if this is occurring frequently.
Similarly, pay attention if she seems to have a lot of trouble hearing when she’s using the phone.
Is she griping about people muttering or talking low constantly? Does she regularly need people to repeat what they said? It’s time for a compassionate chat about the benefits of hearing aids.
4. You’re feeling a tension in the relationship
Researchers have revealed that couples, where one is dealing with hearing loss, have about 50% more arguments. They might argue about what one of them did or didn’t say, the volume of the TV, or other misconceptions.
In general, there’s just more stress in a household when someone can’t hear. They get frustrated about their hearing loss. Others get upset when they won’t go in for help. This frequently leads to people deciding to spend more time alone because of more hurt feelings.
This can cause permanent damage to the relationship and the couple often doesn’t even realize 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 partner, you can get new perspective on your relationships by simply getting a hearing test. Speak with your loved one about getting a hearing test.
If somebody has hearing loss, hearing aids can change their lives and most will state they would never go back. Usually, they wish they would have done it sooner. They feel healthier, happier, and more energetic.
It can be a difficult talk to have. But when your loved one finally gets 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 right away!