It’s a normal first reaction – denial. My loved one must be simply making it seem as if their hearing loss is more severe than it actually is. 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 speak up. It’s just a game. You joke about it. But this game is getting old quickly. You’re starting to believe that perhaps your partner, sibling, or parent is either dismissing you or actually having trouble hearing.
You want your loved one to have a healthy, energetic, and joyful life for many years so it’s likely time to be encouraging and help them seek out the correct help.
If somebody you know needs hearing aids they will probably be showing these 4 prevalent signs.
1. She’s more tired than normal particularly when you go out
You might think it’s simply an indication of aging. Your loved one really doesn’t have as much energy as they used to. You try to relate when she says that she’s not going out tonight.
You really begin to think 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 drained by loud settings. If there is lots of background noise, or if more than one conversation is happening simultaneously, this is particularly true.
People who are struggling to hear put excess energy toward understanding those around them. They often have to draw this energy from other brain functions like memory, talking, and moving.
Using this extra brainpower doesn’t strengthen the brain; it just tires it out. Your loved one will frequently seem to shut down with exhaustion in social situations.
If you’re not personally experiencing the same thing, don’t presume you can relate to what she’s dealing with. Her feelings might be attributable to numerous factors. In order to get to the root of the issue, ask her questions and advocate for a hearing test.
2. She always cranks the TV up too loud
This is frequently one of the first indications that you may identify in another person. Whenever they play music or watch TV, they crank it up really loud.
You go into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just entered a movie theater. You instantly 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 may turn it down when you inform her it’s too loud. But it turns out, she turned closed captions on.
She might not want to acknowledge that she really can’t hear the TV. It’s probably time for you to recommend a hearing exam if this is a regular thing.
3. She frequently needs people to repeat what they said
It may not be a problem if you are in a really loud setting or she’s really focused on something. But you should pay closer attention if this is happening frequently.
Also, if she’s struggling to hear phone conversations you should take note.
Is she complaining about people muttering or talking low constantly? Is she requesting that people repeat themselves? It’s time for a compassionate talk about the benefits of hearing aids.
4. Your relationship is feeling strained
Couples argue twice as much when one of them is dealing with hearing loss, according to research. These quarrels may center around TV volume, misunderstandings, or what one says the other person did or didn’t say.
Overall, there’s just more stress in a household when someone can’t hear. Their hearing loss is stressful. Others get upset when they won’t go in for help. This brings about 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 damage their relationship irreparably. 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 completely new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re dealing with a spouse, sister, or dear friend. Inspire your loved one to schedule an appointment.
If someone has hearing loss, hearing aids can change their lives and most will say they would never go back. Usually, they wish they would have done it sooner. Their overall quality of life will be greatly enhanced.
It’s not an easy discussion to have. But the difficulty of this discussion is worth it when your loved one finally gets the assistance they need.
Call us right away and let us help you with some ideas about how to tackle your loved one’s hearing loss!