It’s a normal first response – denial. Surely, my loved one’s hearing loss isn’t as advanced as it seems. She’s too young to need a hearing aid.
It’s possible, the two of you have begun to joke around with each other about it. Your loved one constantly asks you to speak up. You joke about it as if it’s just a game. But this game is getting old fast. You’re starting to think that perhaps your partner, brother, or parent is either dismissing you or really having trouble hearing.
You want your loved one to have a balanced, active, and happy life for years to come so it’s likely time to be encouraging and help them find the correct help.
If somebody you know needs hearing aids they will probably be exhibiting these 4 common symptoms.
1. She’s more drained than usual particularly when you go out
Perhaps you think that it just ordinarily occurs when you get older. Your loved one used to have a lot more energy. When she says she isn’t feeling like going out tonight, you try to be patient.
You really start to suspect that something isn’t right when she begins skipping meetings with clubs, organizations, and hobby groups she’s always loved. Loud noise seems to deplete your loved one’s energy. If there is lots of background noise, or if more than one conversation is happening at the same time, this is especially true.
Extra energy is required to hear and comprehend what people are saying when somebody is struggling with hearing problems. They often have to draw this energy from other functions in the brain such as memory, speaking, and moving.
Utilizing this extra brainpower doesn’t strengthen the brain; it just makes it tired. Your loved one will often seem to shut down with fatigue in social settings.
If you aren’t personally experiencing the same thing, don’t assume you can relate to what she’s going through. It may be a combination of things. But ask questions. Get to the root cause and recommend that she get a hearing test.
2. She always turns the TV up too loud
Frequently, you will identify this symptom first. They can’t seem to watch TV or listen to music at a healthy volume.
You walk into the room, and it sounds like you’ve just walked into a movie theater. You feel like you should make some popcorn, but it’s just your loved one blowing your ears out with the TV. You can even hear it from outside.
When you say that the TV is too loud, she may chuckle and lower the volume. But actually, she turned closed captions on.
Perhaps she’s ashamed about it. It’s probably time for you to suggest a hearing exam if this is a regular thing.
3. She says, “What?”… a lot
If you’re in a really loud environment like a concert or theater or she’s really focused on a movie, then it might be nothing. But you should pay closer attention if this is occurring often.
Likewise, take notice if she seems to have a lot of difficulty hearing when she’s using the phone.
Is she constantly annoyed because she thinks people are talking too quietly or mumbling? Does she regularly need people to repeat what they said? It’s time for a compassionate chat about the advantages of 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 might center around TV volume, misunderstandings, or what one claims the other person may or may not have said.
Overall, there’s just more stress in a household when somebody can’t hear. Their hearing loss is frustrating. And their refusal to seek out help is frustrating to others. This frequently results in people deciding to spend more time alone because of more hurt feelings.
Many couples don’t realize that hearing loss is the cause, and this can harm their relationship irreparably. Even moderate hearing loss can strain a relationship, so it pays to get it checked out.
Simply getting a hearing exam can give you a completely new perspective on your relationship, whether you’re talking about a spouse, sibling, or dear friend. Inspire your loved one to call for an appointment.
People who discover they need hearing aids and use them say they’d never go back. In fact, they regret they waited so long to get them in the first place. They feel happier, healthier, and more energetic.
It can be a challenging talk to have. But the difficulty of this discussion is worth it when your loved one finally finds the help they need.
Need more useful ideas about how to address your loved one’s hearing loss? Call us right away!