Denial is a common first reaction. Of course, my loved one’s hearing loss isn’t as advanced as it seems. She’s not old enough for a hearing aid.
Maybe, it’s become a joke between the two of you. Your loved one always asks you to speak up. It’s only a game. You joke about it. But this game is getting old quickly. You’re starting to believe that maybe your partner, brother, or parent is either dismissing you or actually having trouble hearing.
You want your loved one to have a healthy, active, and happy life for years to come so it’s likely time to be encouraging and help them seek out the appropriate help.
If someone you know needs hearing aids they will probably be exhibiting these 4 prevalent symptoms.
1. She appears to be fatigued, especially in public
You might think it’s just an indication of getting older. Your loved one used to have much more energy. When she says she isn’t feeling like going out tonight, you try to be patient.
You really start to think that something isn’t right when she starts missing meetings with clubs, organizations, and hobby groups she’s always loved. Your loved one’s energy seems to be exhausted by loud settings. If there is lots of background noise, or if more than one conversation is taking place at the same time, this is particularly true.
People who are struggling to hear put excess energy toward comprehending people around them. Consequently, energy is transferred from other essential brain functions like physical movement, memory, and talking.
This use of extra energy is actually fatiguing the brain not strengthening it. In social settings, fatigue will often seem to shut your loved one down.
Don’t presume you understand what she’s experiencing. Her feelings may be attributable to numerous factors. But ask questions. Get to the root cause and suggest that she get a hearing test.
2. She likes the TV LOUD
This is often one of the first indications that you may notice in another person. They can’t seem to watch TV or play music at a normal volume.
You walk into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just walked into a theater. You instantly get the urge 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. You can even hear it from outdoors.
She may turn it down when you tell her it’s too loud. Then you realize that she just turned on the captions.
She may not want to admit that she really can’t hear the TV. If this is happening a lot, it may be time for you to suggest a hearing exam.
3. She frequently needs people to repeat what they said
It might not be a problem if you are in a really loud setting or she’s really zoned in on something. If it’s occurring more often than that, pay attention.
Similarly, pay attention if she seems to have a lot of trouble hearing when she’s on the phone.
Is she always aggravated because she thinks people are talking too quietly or mumbling? Does she regularly need people to repeat what they said? If so, it’s time to have that loving discussion about how much better life is with hearing aids.
4. Your relationship is feeling strained
Couples argue twice as much when one of them has hearing loss, according to research. These arguments may be about TV volume, misunderstandings, or what one says the other person did or didn’t say.
When someone can’t hear, there will be a lot more stress in a household. Their hearing loss is frustrating. Others get frustrated when they won’t go in for help. This leads to lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart and alone.
This can lead to irreversible harm to the relationship and the couple frequently doesn’t even realize that hearing loss is the cause. It’s important to get the proper help because even moderate hearing loss can strain relationships.
Whether it’s a friend, sibling, or partner, you can get new perspective on your relationships by getting a simple hearing test. Encourage your loved one to schedule an appointment.
If somebody has hearing loss, hearing aids can improve their lives and most will say they would never go back. In fact, they regret they didn’t get them sooner. Their overall quality of life will be significantly improved.
It’s not an easy conversation to have. But when your loved one finally gets 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!