It’s a normal first response – denial. Of course, my loved one’s hearing loss isn’t as bad as it seems. She’s not old enough for a hearing aid.
Perhaps, it’s become a joke between the two of you. Your loved one constantly asks you to repeat yourself. It’s only a game. You joke about it. But it’s starting to become less and less funny. You question whether she’s just disregarding you or if she may actually be having some legit hearing trouble.
You want your loved one to have a balanced, active, and joyful life for many years so it’s likely time to be encouraging and help them find the appropriate help.
Here are 4 prevalent indications that somebody you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She seems fatigued, 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 used to. You try to relate when she says that won’t be going out tonight.
Then she begins skipping meetings with a hobby group, organization, or club that she’s always enjoyed, even when they get together virtually, and you begin to recognize something may be wrong. Loud noise seems to sap your loved one’s energy. This is particularly true if they are in a situation where there’s more than one conversation happening, or there’s lots of background noise.
Extra energy is needed to hear and comprehend what people are saying when somebody is dealing with hearing problems. They often have to draw this energy from other brain functions like memory, talking, and moving.
Utilizing this extra brainpower doesn’t strengthen the brain; it just makes it tired. Your loved one will often seem to shut down with exhaustion in social situations.
If you’re not going through the same thing, don’t assume 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 issue, ask her questions and advocate for a hearing exam.
2. She always cranks the TV up really loud
This is frequently one of the first signs that you may notice in another person. 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 realize that she’s just watching a reality show or documentary at a volume that almost blows your ears out. Your neighbors can even hear it.
When you say that the TV is too loud, she might chuckle and turn it down. But actually, she turned closed captions on.
She might not want to admit that she actually can’t hear the TV. If this is happening a lot, it might be time for you to recommend a hearing exam.
3. She often needs people to repeat themselves
It might not be an issue if you are in a really loud setting or she’s really focused on something. If it’s happening more often than that, be aware.
Similarly, pay attention if she seems to have a lot of difficulty hearing when she’s on the phone.
Is she constantly annoyed because she thinks people are talking too quietly or muttering? Does she frequently need people to repeat what they said? It’s time for a compassionate talk about the advantages of hearing aids.
4. Your relationship is feeling strained
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 misconceptions.
Overall, there’s just more tension in a household when someone can’t hear. Their hearing loss is stressful. Others get upset when they won’t get help. This leads to lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart or 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 a hearing test.
People who realize they need hearing aids and use them say they’d never go back. Typically, they wish they would have done it sooner. Their overall quality of life will be greatly enhanced.
It can be a difficult talk to have. But when your loved one finally gets the help they need it will all have been worth it.
Call us right away and let us help you with some ideas about how to tackle your loved one’s hearing loss!