Living With Parents Who Have Hearing Loss
When it comes to hearing loss, it can sometimes become difficult for us to admit that our parents might be going through it. They might miss out on hearing the occasional sentence and we tend to ignore this for the most part, but if they show continuous signs of missing bits and pieces of every conversation, they may need to get their hearing tested.
Admitting the reality that our parents are facing hearing loss also indirectly requires us to admit to the fact that our parents are growing older, which can be difficult for some of us to do. We might feel emotionally frustrated or upset when dealing with a parent who has hearing loss. Even though we cannot reverse their age, thankfully hearing loss does have effective treatment options, such as obtaining hearing aids.
You can identify hearing loss in your parents by paying close attention to the following symptoms. Your parent may begin listening to their television or radio at an abnormally loud volume and when confronted, they may become irritable and retort that the volume seems perfectly alright to them. They may constantly ask you to repeat what you just said or may respond in vague, questioning responses such as “huh?” or “what?”
Parents with hearing loss often are slow to respond, or do not respond at all when their name is called out or if there is someone at the door or on the telephone. They may also have trouble hearing essential sounds, which can be quite risky especially in emergency situations since they may be unable to hear sounds such as the fire alarm or sirens from the ambulance.
Apart from behavioral changes like the ones listed above, your parent may also endure changes in their personality as a result of hearing loss. Your once outgoing and extraverted parent may begin to show signs of becoming more withdrawn and may appear to avoid social situations. The U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reported a strong connection between psychological disorders such as depression and hearing loss. If you note your parent growing emotionally dejected due to their hearing loss, it is time to consider getting their hearing tested and opt for hearing aids.
Untreated hearing loss tends to deteriorate the quality of life of the person affected as well as those around that person. Not only can hearing loss affect the mental health of your parents but also their physiological health. Ensure that your parents lead the best life they can possibly lead by getting in touch with an audiologist today to learn about hearing aids and whether they might be an appropriate option for your parent.