It’s a normal first reaction – denial. My loved one must be simply making it seem as if their hearing loss is more severe than it really is. She’s not old enough to need a hearing aid.
Perhaps, it’s become a joke between both of you. Your loved one always asks you to repeat yourself. You laugh about it as if it’s simply a game. But this game is getting old quickly. You’re beginning to believe that perhaps your partner, brother, or parent is either ignoring you or actually having trouble hearing.
It’s time to be supportive and make certain your loved one receives the care they need to keep living a happy, healthy, active lifestyle even into their senior years.
If someone you know needs hearing aids they will probably be showing these 4 prevalent signs.
1. She seems fatigued, especially in public
Maybe you believe that it just normally happens when you age. Your loved one used to have much more energy. When she says she isn’t feeling like going out tonight, you try to be patient.
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 exhausted by loud environments. This is especially true if they are in a situation where there’s more than one discussion going on, or there’s lots of background noise.
Extra energy is needed to hear and understand what people are saying when somebody is struggling with hearing issues. They often have to draw this energy from other functions in the brain such as memory, talking, and moving.
This use of additional energy is actually exhausting the brain not strengthening it. Your loved one will often seem to shut down with exhaustion in social situations.
If you’re not going through the same thing, don’t presume you can relate to what she’s going through. Her feelings might be attributable to numerous factors. In order to get to the root of the problem, ask her questions and advocate for a hearing exam.
2. She watches the TV LOUD
This is frequently one of the first signs that you might perceive in another person. Whenever they listen to music or watch TV, they crank it up very loud.
You go 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. Your neighbors are even able to hear it.
She might turn it down when you inform her it’s too loud. But actually, she turned closed captions on.
Maybe she’s ashamed about it. If this is occurring a lot, it might be time for you to recommend a hearing test.
3. She often needs people to repeat what they said
It might not be a problem if you are in a really loud environment or she’s really zoned in on something. If it’s occurring more frequently than that, be aware.
Furthermore, if she’s struggling to hear phone calls you should take note.
Is she always frustrated because she thinks people are talking too low or muttering? 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
Researchers have discovered that couples, where one has hearing loss, have about 50% more quarrels. They might argue about what one of them may or may not have said, the volume of the TV, or other misunderstandings.
In general, there’s just more tension in a household when somebody can’t hear. Their hearing loss is stressful. And their refusal to get help is stressful to others. This often leads to people deciding to spend more time apart because of 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.
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, sister, or dear friend. Talk to your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
If someone has hearing loss, hearing aids can change their lives and most will say they would never go back. Usually, they wish they would have done it sooner. Their overall quality of life will be significantly enhanced.
It can be a difficult conversation to have. But the difficulty of this discussion is worth it when your loved one finally finds the assistance they need.
Need more helpful ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us right away!