Denial is a typical first response. My loved one must be just making it seem as if their hearing loss is worse than it actually is. She’s not old enough to need a hearing aid.
Maybe, it’s become a joke between both of you. She is always requesting that you repeat what you said. You laugh about it as if it’s simply a game. But it’s starting to become less and less humorous. You wonder if she’s just ignoring you or if she might actually be having some genuine hearing trouble.
You want your loved one to have a balanced, active, and joyful life for years to come so it’s probably time to be supportive and help them seek out the appropriate help.
Here are 4 prevalent signs that someone you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She appears to be exhausted, particularly in public
Maybe you think that it just ordinarily occurs when you age. Your loved one used to have a lot more energy. When she says she isn’t feeling like going out tonight, you try to understand.
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. Your loved one’s energy seems to be depleted by loud settings. 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.
Individuals who are struggling to hear put excess energy toward comprehending people around them. They often have to draw this energy from other functions in the brain such as memory, speaking, and moving.
This use of extra energy is actually exhausting the brain not strengthening it. Your loved one will frequently seem to shut down with exhaustion in social settings.
If you’re not personally experiencing the same thing, don’t presume you can relate to what she’s going through. It may 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 always turns the TV up too loud
This is often one of the first signs that you might perceive in another person. They can’t seem to watch TV or play music at a normal volume.
You walk into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just walked into 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. You can even hear it from outside.
When you suggest that the TV is too loud, she may chuckle and turn it down. Then you notice that she just switched on the captions.
Perhaps she’s embarrassed about it. It’s likely time for you to recommend a hearing assessment if this is a frequent thing.
3. She says, “What?”… a lot
If you’re in a really loud environment like a concert or theater or she’s really concentrated on a movie, then it may be nothing. If it’s happening more frequently than that, be aware.
Similarly, take notice if she seems to have a lot of trouble hearing when she’s using the phone.
Is she griping about people mumbling or talking low constantly? Is she requesting that people repeat themselves? If so, it’s time to have that loving conversation about how much better life is with hearing aids.
4. Your relationship is feeling tense
Couples argue twice as much when one of them has hearing loss, according to research. They might argue about what one of them did or didn’t say, the volume of the TV, or other misconceptions.
When someone isn’t able to hear, there will be a lot more tension in a household. Their hearing loss is frustrating. Others get frustrated when they won’t get help. This leads to lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart and alone.
Many couples don’t realize 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 completely new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re talking about a spouse, sibling, or dear friend. Talk to your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
People who discover they need hearing aids and wear them say they’d never go back. Usually, they wish they wouldn’t have waited so long. They feel healthier, happier, and more energetic.
It can be a challenging talk to have. But the challenge of this conversation is worth it when your loved one finally finds the assistance they need.
Call us today and let us help you with some ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss!
