Hearing loss has become very common in the US today. So much so that we sometimes make light of it with our families and friends. While laughter is great medicine, it doesn’t replace the advice of hearing care professionals.
Oftentimes, we think we are doing what’s best for our families by trying to protect them and not burden them with our hearing problems. However, when it comes to your hearing, chances are your family is already accommodating you more than you realize.
Common Behaviors
Yelling At You — While this may seem like a minor inconvenience at first, over time this can create a source of resentment. Your family may be holding back and not say everything they want to say simply because it’s too much work. Repeating themselves can wear them down, especially if you have declined the use of a hearing aid. While louder is not always better due to the damage it can incur, your family would like to speak with you, not shout at you.
Speaking Your Own Language — Similar to speaking loudly, having to translate can be equally demoralizing. When hearing loss is first identified, it is comforting to know your family is there for you to help. Having a child or grandchild repeat things in conversation may seem like a solution at first, but it is not a long-term solution. This can lead to a co-dependency and will put a strain on the family. It may create frustration, anger, avoidance, discouragement, guilt, and many other emotions that will affect your family dynamic.
Not Letting You Out Of Their Sight — You may find your family overly inviting you to events and gatherings and your initial reaction is to decline. This could be an attempt at preventing you from isolating yourself too much while encouraging good mental health. With hearing loss, it is easy to withdraw from social functions, as it is more comfortable to be at home where there is nothing to hear. Self-isolation has been known to lead to an array of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and dementia to name a few.
Too Much Assistance — When in a loving marriage, it is great to have someone to help you through life’s pitfalls. This can be a great source of support and it makes the road to recovery that much smoother – as long as you’re on the road to recovery. Sometimes our family helps so much that we don’t help ourselves and they end up shouldering most of the burden. It’s easy to depend on family when they are so willing to help, but their help might not be what you need. If your loved one has assumed the position of the translator, caregiver, messenger, etc., then that is admirable, but it will not help you in the long run. In fact, when a person is lucky enough to have someone care for them in that way, then they have no desire to improve their situation.
A comprehensive hearing assessment is the first step to repairing any damage caused to family relationships. This will show that you appreciate all their love and hard work and you want to repay them by getting the help you need and deserve.
You can also speak to your hearing care professional at UpState Hearing Instruments about any of these issues, as we have the training and experience to help you right now.
