It’s a normal first reaction – denial. My loved one must be just making it seem as if their hearing loss is worse than it actually is. She’s too young to need a hearing aid.
It’s possible, the two of you have started to kid around with one another about it. She is always requesting that you repeat what you said. You joke about it as if it’s just a game. But it’s starting to become less and less funny. You question whether she’s simply ignoring you or if she might actually be having some legit hearing trouble.
You want your loved one to have a healthy, energetic, and happy life for many years so it’s probably time to be supportive and help them seek out the correct help.
Here are 4 common indications that someone you know needs a hearing aid.
1. She appears to be exhausted, especially in public
Perhaps you believe that it just ordinarily occurs when you get older. Your loved one used to have much more energy. When she says she isn’t feeling like going out tonight, you try to understand.
Then she begins missing meetings with a hobby group, organization, or club that she’s always enjoyed, even when they get together virtually, and you begin to realize something could be wrong. Loud noise seems to drain your loved one’s energy. If there is lots of background noise, or if more than one conversation is taking place simultaneously, this is especially true.
Additional energy is required to hear and comprehend what people are saying when somebody is coping with hearing problems. As a result, energy is taken from other important brain functions like physical movement, memory, and talking.
This use of additional energy is actually exhausting the brain not strengthening it. In social settings, exhaustion will often seem to shut your loved one down.
If you’re not personally experiencing the same thing, don’t assume you can relate to what she’s dealing with. It could be a mix of things. But ask questions. Get to the underlying cause and recommend that she gets her hearing tested.
2. She watches the TV LOUD
This is frequently one of the first signs that you might notice in another person. Whenever they play music or watch TV, they crank it up really loud.
Your living room sounds like a cinema. You instantly get the impulse to make some popcorn, except you find that she’s just watching a reality show or documentary at a volume that almost makes you cringe. You can even hear it from outdoors.
She may turn it down when you tell her it’s too loud. But it turns out, she turned on closed captions.
Perhaps she’s embarrassed about it. If this is happening a lot, it might be time for you to suggest a hearing test.
3. She often 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 might be nothing. If it’s occurring more frequently than that, be aware.
Also, if she’s struggling to hear phone conversations you should take note.
Is she constantly aggravated because she thinks people are speaking too low or mumbling? Does she regularly 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
Researchers have found that couples, where one is dealing with hearing loss, have about 50% more arguments. These quarrels might be about TV volume, misunderstandings, or what one claims the other person may or may not have said.
When someone isn’t able to hear, there will be much more stress in a household. Their hearing loss is frustrating. Others get frustrated when they won’t go in for help. This often results in people deciding to spend more time alone due to more hurt feelings.
This can lead to irreversible damage to the relationship and the couple frequently doesn’t even recognize that hearing loss is the reason. Even moderate hearing loss can strain a relationship, so it pays to get it checked out.
Simply getting a hearing test can give you a completely new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re dealing with a spouse, sister, or dear friend. Talk to your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
People who realize they need hearing aids and wear 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. They feel happier, healthier, and more energetic.
It isn’t a comfortable discussion to have. But when your loved one finally finds 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 address your loved one’s hearing loss!