It’s a common first response – denial. Surely, my loved one’s hearing loss isn’t as advanced as it seems. She’s not old enough for 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. You laugh about it like it’s simply a game. But it’s starting to become less and less funny. You’re starting to think that maybe your partner, sibling, or parent is either ignoring you or actually having trouble hearing.
You want your loved one to have a balanced, active, and happy life for many years so it’s probably time to be encouraging and help them find the correct help.
Here are 4 common signs that someone you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She’s more tired than usual particularly when you go out
Perhaps you think that it just normally occurs when you age. Your loved one used to have a lot more energy. 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 loved, even when they meet virtually, and you begin to recognize something may be wrong. Your loved one’s energy seems to be drained by loud environments. This is particularly true if they are in a situation where there is more than one conversation happening, or there’s lots of background noise.
Extra energy is required to hear and understand what people are saying when someone is coping with hearing issues. Consequently, energy is taken from other important brain functions like physical mobility, memory, and speaking.
This use of additional energy is actually exhausting the brain not strengthening it. In social situations, fatigue will often seem to shut your loved one down.
Don’t assume you know what she’s dealing with. It may be a combination of things. But ask questions. Get to the root cause and recommend that she get a hearing test.
2. She always turns the TV up too loud
Frequently, you will identify this symptom first. Whenever they play music or watch TV, they turn it up really loud.
Your living room sounds like a cinema. You instantly get the urge to make some popcorn, except you realize that she’s just watching a reality show or documentary at a volume that almost blows your ears out. Your neighbors are even able to hear it.
She might turn it down when you tell her it’s too loud. Then you realize that she just switched on the captions.
Perhaps she’s embarrassed about it. If this is happening a lot, it might be time for you to recommend a hearing assessment.
3. She frequently needs people to repeat themselves
If you’re in a really loud setting like a concert or theater or she’s really concentrated on a movie, then it may be nothing. But you should pay closer attention if this is occurring frequently.
Also, if she’s straining to hear phone calls you should take note.
Is she constantly annoyed because she thinks people are speaking too low or mumbling? Is she asking people to repeat themselves? 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 rift in the relationship
Researchers have found 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 misconceptions.
Overall, there’s just more stress in a household when someone can’t hear. Their hearing loss is stressful. And their refusal to get help is stressful to others. This leads to lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart and alone.
Many couples don’t recognize that hearing loss is the cause, and this can harm 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 spouse, you can get new perspective on your relationships by simply getting a hearing test. Speak with your loved one about getting a hearing test.
People who discover they need hearing aids and use them say they’d never go back. As a matter of fact, they regret they waited so long to get them in the first place. Their overall quality of life will be greatly improved.
It isn’t an easy conversation to have. But when your loved one finally finds the help they need it will all have been worth it.
Need more practical ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us right away!
