It’s a normal first response – denial. My loved one must be just making it seem as if their hearing loss is more severe than it actually is. She’s not old enough for a hearing aid.
It’s possible, the two of you have started to kid around with each other about it. She is always requesting that you repeat what you said. You laugh about it like it’s simply a game. But it’s beginning to become less and less funny. You’re starting to believe that maybe your partner, sibling, or parent is either ignoring you or actually having difficulty hearing.
You want your loved one to have a balanced, energetic, and joyful life for years to come so it’s probably time to be encouraging and help them find the appropriate help.
Here are 4 common signals that someone you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She’s more drained than normal particularly when you go out
Perhaps you think that it just normally happens 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 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. If there is lots of background noise, or if more than one conversation is happening simultaneously, this is especially true.
Additional energy is required to hear and understand what people are saying when somebody is dealing with hearing issues. Consequently, energy is transferred from other essential brain functions like physical movement, memory, and talking.
This use of extra 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 dealing with. Her feelings might be due to a number of factors. But ask questions. Get to the root cause and suggest that she get a hearing test.
2. She watches the TV LOUD
This is frequently one of the first signs that you might identify in another person. Whenever they listen to music or watch TV, they crank it up really loud.
You walk into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just entered a movie 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 blows your ears out. Your neighbors can even hear it.
She might turn it down when you inform her it’s too loud. But actually, she turned on closed captions.
She might not want to acknowledge that she actually can’t hear the TV. It’s probably time for you to recommend a hearing assessment if this is a frequent thing.
3. She frequently needs people to repeat what they said
If you’re in a really loud setting like a concert or theater or she’s really focused on a movie, then it may be nothing. But you should be mindful if this is happening often.
Similarly, take notice if she seems to have a lot of difficulty hearing when she’s on the phone.
Is she griping about people muttering 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. You’re feeling a tension 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.
Overall, there’s just more tension in a household when somebody can’t hear. Their hearing loss is frustrating. Others get frustrated when they won’t go in for help. This frequently results in people deciding to spend more time apart because of more hurt feelings.
This can cause permanent harm to the relationship and the couple often doesn’t even comprehend that hearing loss is the cause. It’s important to get the proper help because even moderate hearing loss can strain relationships.
Simply getting a hearing exam can give you a totally new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re talking about a spouse, sister, or dear friend. Talk to your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
If somebody has hearing loss, hearing aids can change their lives and most will state they would never go back. In fact, they regret they didn’t get them sooner. They feel happier, healthier, and more energetic.
It can be a challenging conversation to have. But when your loved one finally finds 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 tackle your loved one’s hearing loss!