It’s a normal first reaction – denial. My loved one must be just making it seem like their hearing loss is more severe than it really is. She’s too young to require a hearing aid.
It’s possible, the both of you have started to kid around with one another about it. She is always asking you to repeat what you said. It’s just a game. You joke about it. But this game is getting old quickly. You’re starting to believe that maybe your spouse, sibling, or parent is either dismissing you or actually having trouble hearing.
You want your loved one to have a balanced, active, and joyful life for years to come so it’s likely time to be supportive and help them seek out the correct help.
If someone you know needs hearing aids they will most likely be exhibiting these 4 prevalent signs.
1. She’s more drained than usual particularly when you go out
You might believe it’s just an indication of aging. Your loved one really doesn’t have as much energy as they once did. You try to relate when she says that she’s not going out tonight.
You really begin to suspect that something isn’t right when she begins skipping meetings with clubs, organizations, and hobby groups she’s always enjoyed. Your loved one’s energy seems to be exhausted by loud environments. This is particularly true if they’re in a situation where there is more than one conversation happening, or there’s lots of background noise.
People who are struggling to hear put excessive energy toward understanding people around them. They often have to pull this energy from other brain functions such as memory, speaking, and moving.
Utilizing this additional brainpower doesn’t strengthen the brain; it just makes it tired. Your loved one will frequently seem to shut down with exhaustion in social situations.
Don’t presume you know what she’s dealing with. Her feelings might be the result of numerous factors. But ask questions. Get to the base cause and recommend that she get a hearing test.
2. She always turns the TV up too loud
Frequently, you will notice this symptom first. They can’t seem to watch TV or play music at a normal volume.
Your living room sounds like a movie theater. You suddenly get the impulse to make some popcorn, except you find that she’s just watching a reality show or documentary at a volume that almost blows your ears out. You can even hear it from outdoors.
When you say that the TV is too loud, she might chuckle and turn it down. Then you realize that she just turned on the captions.
She might not want to acknowledge that she actually can’t hear the TV. It’s probably time for you to suggest a hearing assessment if this is a frequent thing.
3. She says, “What?”… a lot
It may 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 often than that, pay attention.
Likewise, pay attention 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? It’s time for a compassionate talk about the benefits of hearing aids.
4. Your relationship is feeling tense
Researchers have found that couples, where one has hearing loss, have about 50% more quarrels. They might argue about what one of them did or didn’t say, the volume of the TV, or other misunderstandings.
When somebody can’t hear, there will be much more stress in a household. They get frustrated about their hearing loss. And their refusal to seek out help is stressful to others. This frequently leads to people deciding to spend more time alone because of more hurt feelings.
Many couples don’t recognize that hearing loss is the trigger, and this can damage their relationship irreparably. It’s important to get the proper help because even moderate hearing loss can strain relationships.
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 someone has hearing loss, hearing aids can change their lives and most will state they would never go back. Normally, they wish they would have done it sooner. Their general quality of life will be significantly enhanced.
It’s not a comfortable conversation to have. But when your loved one finally gets the help they need it will all have been worth it.
Call us today and let us help you with some ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss!