Denial is a common first response. My loved one must be simply making it seem as if their hearing loss is more severe 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 each other about it. Your loved one always asks you to speak up. It’s only a game. You joke about it. But this game is getting old fast. You wonder if she’s simply disregarding you or if she might actually be having some legit hearing trouble.
You want your loved one to have a balanced, energetic, and happy life for years to come so it’s likely time to be supportive and help them find the appropriate help.
If somebody you know needs hearing aids they will most likely be showing these 4 prevalent signs.
1. She seems exhausted, especially in public
Maybe you believe that it just ordinarily happens when you age. Your loved one used to have much more energy. You try to understand when she says that won’t be going out tonight.
You really start to think 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 settings. This is particularly true if they are in a situation where there is more than one conversation going on, or there’s a lot of background noise.
Individuals who are straining to hear put excess energy toward comprehending people around them. Consequently, energy is transferred from other essential brain functions like physical movement, memory, and talking.
This use of additional energy is actually exhausting the brain not strengthening it. Your loved one will frequently seem to shut down with fatigue 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 may be a mix of things. But ask questions. Get to the base cause and suggest that she gets her hearing tested.
2. She likes the TV LOUD
This is often one of the first signs that you may perceive in another person. Whenever they listen to music or watch TV, they crank it up really loud.
Your living room sounds like a cinema. You feel like you should make some popcorn, but it’s just your loved one blowing your ears out with the TV. Your neighbors can even hear it.
When you say that the TV is too loud, she may laugh and lower the volume. Then you notice that she just switched on the captions.
She might not want to acknowledge that she really can’t hear the TV. If this is occurring a lot, it may be time for you to suggest a hearing exam.
3. She often needs people to repeat themselves
It might not be an issue if you are in a really loud environment or she’s really focused on something. But you should be mindful if this is occurring frequently.
Furthermore, if she’s straining to hear phone conversations you should pay attention.
Is she always frustrated because she thinks people are talking too quietly or mumbling? Does she frequently need people to repeat what they said? If so, it’s time to have that loving chat about how much more enjoyable life is with hearing aids.
4. You’re feeling a tension in the relationship
Researchers have discovered that couples, where one is dealing with hearing loss, have around 50% more arguments. They might argue about what one of them did or didn’t say, the volume of the TV, or other misunderstandings.
When someone can’t hear, there will be a lot more stress in a household. They get frustrated about their hearing loss. And their refusal to seek out help is stressful to others. This leads to lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart or alone.
Many couples don’t recognize that hearing loss is the trigger, and this can harm 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 completely new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re dealing with a spouse, sister, or dear friend. Speak with your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
If somebody has hearing loss, hearing aids can change their lives and most will say they would never go back. In fact, they regret they didn’t get them sooner. They feel happier, healthier, and more energetic.
It can be a difficult talk to have. But the difficulty of this discussion is worth it when your loved one finally gets the help they need.
Call us today and let us help you with some ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss!