Tips For Handling A Husband Hard Of Hearing

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By Sarah King


Getting older isn't easy. Many seniors start to see signs that their bodies are beginning to wear out. If you have been married for a long time, you know when your spouse is changing. You might notice your husband is turning the television up louder than usual or missing half of what you say. Even though he denies it, you suspect you have a husband hard of hearing.

A lot of men hate admitting anything might be wrong with them, so getting your spouse to the audiologist may be a challenge. If you have to call and set the appointment up yourself and walk him into the office, you need to do it. Once the audiologist has confirmed your suspicions, the next thing to do is tackle the problem head on.

The audiologist will sit down with both of you and explain exactly what the issues are, how much loss there is, and what your spouse can expect going forward. The doctor may recommend hearing aids or cochlear implants as the best course of action. It's not a life threatening situation however, and your spouse has time to decide how he wants to handle it.

In the meantime, you can help your partner by adjusting the way you speak to him. Make a conscious effort to look at him directly when you're speaking. If you need to get his attention, you might touch his back, shoulder or hand first. Background noises make it harder for him to hear, so if you want to have a conversation, turn the television down or off. You don't have to yell at him. It won't help. Neither will talking to him as if English is his second language.

When you are at the grocery store, mall, or in a restaurant, you can't avoid the background noise. Gesturing and pointing, which is usually considered rude, is perfectly acceptable under these circumstances. Chewing, covering your mouth, and smoking all interfere with your husband's ability to understand you. A lot of patience is extremely important. Your spouse is no longer pretending he can't hear you. Laughing, if it's mutual, can relieve a lot of tension.

There are things your husband can do to help himself and help you. He can let you know when you are doing something in a certain way that makes it hard for him to understand what you're saying. If he knows he's going into a noisy situation, he should plan in advance and decide how to handle it. He is, finally, going to have to pay attention. If this was not his strong suit in the past, now is the time to learn.

It is especially important to plan for emergencies when you are living with someone with this kind of loss. You can find special devices that address this issue. They can be tactile, visual, or auditory. Some will flash and others vibrate.

Having trouble hearing what is going on around you is no fun. You might not be able to understand exactly what it's like, but you can be sympathetic and encouraging. He would do the same for you if the situation were reversed.




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