Denial is a typical first reaction. My loved one must be just making it seem as if their hearing loss is worse than it really is. She’s too young to need a hearing aid.
Maybe, the both of you have started to joke around with one another about it. She is always asking you to repeat what you said. You laugh about it as if it’s simply a game. But it’s starting to become less and less funny. You’re beginning to believe that maybe your partner, sibling, or parent is either ignoring you or really having trouble hearing.
You want your loved one to have a healthy, active, and happy life for years to come so it’s likely time to be encouraging and help them seek out the appropriate help.
If someone you know needs hearing aids they will most likely be showing these 4 common signs.
1. She appears to be exhausted, particularly in public
Maybe you believe that it just normally occurs when you age. Your loved one really doesn’t have as much energy as they once did. You try to understand when she says that won’t be going out tonight.
Then she begins missing meetings with a hobby group, organization, or club that she’s always enjoyed, even when they meet virtually, and you start to recognize something may be wrong. Loud noise seems to sap your loved one’s energy. If there is a lot of background noise, or if more than one conversation is happening simultaneously, this is especially true.
People who are struggling to hear put excess energy toward understanding people around them. Consequently, energy is transferred from other essential brain functions like physical mobility, memory, and speaking.
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 situations.
Don’t presume you understand what she’s experiencing. It could be a mix of things. In order to get to the bottom of the problem, ask her questions and advocate for a hearing assessment.
2. She likes the TV LOUD
Often, you will identify this symptom first. Whenever they play music or watch TV, they turn it up really loud.
You go into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just entered a theater. You suddenly get the urge to make some popcorn, except you find that she’s just watching a reality show or documentary at a volume that almost makes you cringe. 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.
She may not want to admit that she actually can’t hear the TV. It’s probably time for you to recommend a hearing exam if this is a frequent thing.
3. She frequently needs people to repeat themselves
If you’re in a really loud environment like a concert or movie theater or she’s really focused on a movie, then it might be nothing. But you should pay closer attention if this is occurring often.
Likewise, take notice if she seems to have a lot of difficulty hearing when she’s using the phone.
Is she constantly frustrated because she thinks people are talking too low or mumbling? Is she requesting that people repeat themselves? It’s time for a compassionate talk about the advantages of hearing aids.
4. You’re feeling a rift in the relationship
Couples argue twice as much when one of them has hearing loss, according to research. They may argue about what one of them did or didn’t say, the volume of the TV, or other misunderstandings.
In general, there’s just more stress in a household when somebody can’t hear. They get frustrated about their hearing loss. Others get upset when they won’t go in for 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 cause, and this can damage their relationship irreparably. 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 getting a simple hearing test. Talk to your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
People who discover they need hearing aids and use them say they’d never go back. Usually, they wish they would have done it sooner. They feel healthier, happier, and more energetic.
It isn’t an easy conversation to have. But the difficulty of this conversation is worth it when your loved one finally finds the assistance they need.
Need more helpful ideas about how to handle your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us today!