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6 Cues to Look for if You Suspect Hearing Loss in Your Elderly Loved One

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If your loved one has always had decent hearing, it’s not something you’d necessarily think about when he first starts having trouble. Hearing loss is something that can come on either gradually Elderly-Care-in-Cranford-NJ or suddenly and when it’s gradual, even your loved one might not realize what’s going on. If you spot some of these cues, talk to your loved one’s doctor about further hearing testing to be sure.

Mumbling

You know that when your loved one accuses others of mumbling that’s a red flag, but did you know that his own mumbling could be a clue, too? The reason for this is that if your loved one can’t hear himself all that well, either, he could be pretty self-conscious about how loudly he’s talking. And the likelihood is that he’ll overcompensate and talk lower to avoid appearing to be shouting.

Asking Others to Repeat Themselves

Your loved one may not even realize how often he’s asking others to repeat themselves, but you might want to start taking note. It’s also a good idea to look at how you’re starting to talk to your loved one. It’s not uncommon for loved ones and family caregivers to start talking more slowly, a little more clearly, and a little louder without realizing that they’re helping their loved one to compensate for damaged hearing.

Trouble Talking on the Phone

Your loved one may have never liked talking on the phone much, but after he starts to develop hearing loss he’s much more likely to avoid phone conversations. A common complaint is that no one on the phone can speak clearly, which may only be true in a few instances.

Issues with Tinnitus or Other Sounds

Ask your loved one if he hears any sounds that aren’t coming from his external environment, like ringing or roaring sounds in his ears. The ringing, also called tinnitus, and other types of sounds can be a cause of diminished hearing. In some cases, these sounds may be able to be reduced, so be sure to talk to your loved one’s doctor about what can be done.

Avoiding Conversations with Others

When your loved one isn’t comfortable with his own hearing loss, he’s likely to avoid talking to other people. That might include you and other family members, or it could be just new people. Try working with your loved one’s elder care providers to develop techniques that help your loved one to be less self-conscious about his hearing.

Irritability or Frustration That Doesn’t Seem to Have a Cause

Not being able to hear properly is really frustrating and if your loved one doesn’t realize yet that he’s got a hearing issue, he might be angrier than he would normally be. Your loved one might also be more withdrawn from his normal activities, causing him to be more stressed or negative than usual.

Sometimes it’s tough to decipher what could be going on with your elderly loved one, so it’s important to pay attention to all the clues you can gather.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elderly care services near Cranford, NJ, call the caring staff at Helping Hands Home Care today at 908-418-4299.

Providing Home Care Services in all of Northern and Central NJ, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside and the surrounding areas.

 

Robert D'Arienzo

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