Help a Loved One
Helping a loved one who is suffering from hearing loss can be challenging, especially because hearing loss rarely happens overnight. When sometimes they can hear and sometimes they can’t, it is easy to justify waiting to do something about the problem. However, as you loved one hears less and less each day the problem becomes more and more significant and has an increasingly large impact on their ability to function in the world.
Why doesn’t my loved one want to get help?
There are many reasons that your loved one might resist seeking treatment for hearing loss including feelings of embarrassment over the problem, resentment that they are struggling, pride or stubbornness about getting help, fear that the problem may be serious or that the treatment might be expensive or painful, and overall feelings of frustration and anger about the situation. Regardless of why they are hesitant to get help from an experienced audiologist, the first step is to convince them that it is time to find out for sure if they really do have a problem. The only way to find out for sure whether or not they really do have a problem is to come in for a hearing test. We are here to support you and your loved one through the process of evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment – you just have to take the first step by calling or visiting us to get started.
Some of the signs of hearing loss include:
- Misunderstanding conversations, especially in loud environments.
- Playing the television or radio at extremely high volumes.
- Favoring one ear or turning to one side to hear better.
- Complaining about or avoiding people that speak quietly or mumble.
- Frequently asking for others to repeat what they’ve said.
- Struggling to understand phone conversations.
- Failing to notice the doorbell ringing, the telephone ringing, or the turn signal clicking.
- Complaining about ringing or buzzing in their ears.
If you or your loved one is experiencing one or more of these symptoms then you may be suffering from hearing loss. The only way to know for sure is to come in for a hearing test. We are here to support you through the process of evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment – you just have to take the first step by calling or visiting us to get started.