Denial is a common first response. Surely, my loved one’s hearing loss isn’t as advanced as it seems. She’s not old enough for a hearing aid.
Maybe, the two of you have begun to kid around with one another about it. She is always asking you to repeat what you said. It’s just a game. You laugh about it. But it’s starting to become less and less funny. You’re starting to believe that maybe your spouse, 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 appropriate help.
If somebody you know needs hearing aids they will most likely be showing these 4 common symptoms.
1. She’s more tired than normal especially when you go out
Perhaps you think that it just ordinarily occurs when you get older. Your loved one used to have much more energy. You try to understand when she says that won’t be going out tonight.
You really start to suspect that something isn’t right when she starts missing meetings with clubs, organizations, and hobby groups she’s always enjoyed. Your loved one’s energy seems to be drained by loud environments. This is particularly true if they are in a situation where there is more than one conversation going on, or there’s a lot of background noise.
People who are straining to hear put excessive energy toward understanding those around them. They frequently have to draw this energy from other functions in the brain like memory, speaking, and moving.
This use of additional energy is actually fatiguing the brain not strengthening it. Your loved one will often seem to shut down with fatigue in social settings.
Don’t presume you understand what she’s dealing with. Her feelings may be the result of a number of factors. In order to get to the root of the issue, ask her questions and advocate for a hearing assessment.
2. She likes the TV LOUD
Frequently, you will notice this symptom first. They can’t seem to watch TV or listen to music at a normal volume.
Your living room sounds like 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 outdoors.
When you say that the TV is too loud, she may chuckle and turn it down. Then you realize that she just switched on the captions.
She might not want to acknowledge that she actually can’t hear the TV. If this is happening a lot, it might be time for you to suggest a hearing exam.
3. She says, “What?”… a lot
It might not be a problem if you are in a very loud setting or she’s really focused on something. But you should pay closer attention if this is occurring often.
Also, if she’s struggling to hear phone conversations you should take note.
Is she constantly aggravated because she thinks people are speaking too quietly or muttering? Does she frequently need people to repeat what they said? 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 has hearing loss, according to research. These arguments may center around TV volume, misunderstandings, or what one says the other person did or didn’t say.
When somebody isn’t able to hear, there will be much more stress in a household. They get aggravated about their hearing loss. Others get upset when they won’t go in for help. This leads to lots of hurt feelings and decisions to spend more time apart and alone.
Many couples don’t realize that hearing loss is the trigger, and this can damage their relationship irreparably. 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 talking about a spouse, sister, or dear friend. Speak with your loved one about getting their hearing assessed.
Individuals who recognize 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 active.
It isn’t an easy conversation to have. But the challenge of this conversation is worth it when your loved one finally gets the help they need.
Call us right away and let us help you with some ideas about how to tackle your loved one’s hearing loss!