It’s a normal first reaction – 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.
Maybe, it’s become a joke between both of you. She is always requesting that you repeat what you said. It’s only a game. You laugh about it. But it’s beginning to become less and less humorous. 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 healthy, energetic, and joyful life for years to come so it’s likely time to be supportive and help them seek out the correct help.
Here are 4 common signs that someone you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She appears to be exhausted, particularly in public
Perhaps you think that it just ordinarily happens 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 starts missing meetings with a hobby group, organization, or club that she’s always enjoyed, even when they meet virtually, and you begin to realize something could be wrong. Your loved one’s energy seems to be depleted by loud environments. This is especially true if they’re in a situation where there is more than one discussion happening, or there’s a lot of background noise.
Additional energy is needed to hear and understand what people are saying when someone is coping with hearing problems. As a result, energy is transferred from other important brain functions like physical movement, memory, and speaking.
This use of extra energy is actually fatiguing the brain not strengthening it. In social settings, exhaustion will often seem to shut your loved one down.
Don’t assume you know what she’s experiencing. 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 too 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.
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 makes you cringe. Your neighbors are even able to hear it.
When you say that the TV is too loud, she might chuckle and lower the volume. Then you realize that she just switched on the captions.
Maybe she’s embarrassed about it. If this is happening a lot, it may be time for you to suggest a hearing exam.
3. She often needs people to repeat themselves
If you’re in a really loud environment like a concert or theater or she’s really concentrated on a movie, then it might be nothing. But you should be mindful if this is occurring frequently.
Also, if she’s struggling to hear phone conversations you should take note.
Is she always annoyed because she thinks people are talking too quietly or muttering? Does she frequently need people to repeat what they said? 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 two times as much when one of them has hearing loss, according to research. They might argue about what one of them may or may not have said, the volume of the TV, or other misunderstandings.
When somebody can’t hear, there will be much more stress in a household. Their hearing loss is stressful. Others get upset when they won’t get help. This frequently leads to people deciding to spend more time alone because of more hurt feelings.
Many couples don’t recognize that hearing loss is the trigger, and this can damage their relationship irreparably. It’s important to get the proper help because even moderate hearing loss can strain relationships.
The simple act of getting a hearing test can give you a totally new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re dealing with a spouse, sibling, or dear friend. Speak with your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
Individuals 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 general quality of life will be greatly improved.
It can be a difficult conversation to have. But the difficulty of this discussion is worth it when your loved one finally finds the help they need.
Need more helpful ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us today!