Hearing Loss Affects Family, Marriage, Workplace and Relationships
Are you tired of acting as the interpreter for your loved one with hearing loss? You know there is a problem, whether it has been measured or not, because you have to compensate for the hearing loss by repeating, trying not to sound mad as you raise your voice, making excuses for your family member, and managing to tolerate loud TV – or, worse yet, indifference. At Colorful Hearing, we are here to bring relief to you too.
Hearing loss is considered the invisible disability. When you see a person with a broken leg trying to go through a doorway, you intuitively know to hold the door open and help them through. Warm fuzzies rise inside from knowing you helped an injured person. But with hearing loss, it is unclear what to do. If you raise your voice, loud speech distorts the message auditorily and emotionally. It sounds like you are mad, even when you’re not. Making things louder does not necessarily make them clearer. So do you keep compensating for someone else’s problem or stand your ground?
Hearing impairment impacts the home or office environment, as the one with hearing loss attempts to compensate by turning things up louder. One of the most obvious indicators of hearing loss is the loud volume of the TV. Listening to loud sound while putting up with your loved one’s loss can affect your hearing and well-being too.
Labor statistics show that people who are hearing impaired are more likely to lose their jobs. The loss of income affects the individual, the family, the company, and society.
When Communication Becomes Too Hard, It Shuts Down
People learn that the hearing impaired person can’t understand most of the time. They assign meaning to that missed message. Interpretations of broken communication may include: dull, senile, stupid, inattentive, rude, incompetent, uncooperative, disobedient, or other perplexing associations. The path of least resistance for most family members leads to avoidance. Just don’t strike up a conversation, or don’t call, and the problem is brushed aside. This is especially impactful for young children. They don’t understand why Grandpa can’t or won’t talk to them. Halted communication leads to isolation and depression for the hearing impaired person and broken relationships in the family. It’s a lonely cycle that can be broken. People who live in social isolation are more likely to die.
Talk to your loved one. Assure them that you will be a support, although it is not your responsibility to be their ears. There are many effective solutions available now, to overcome hearing loss. Until you take a stand, you are choosing to live with the loneliness, stress, disruption, and confusion that hearing loss interjects on the whole family or workplace.
We invite you to come with your hearing impaired family member to the audiologic evaluation appointment. We will define the hearing loss, its effects on communication, and help you find solutions that work for the whole family. Step out of the rut and reclaim your relationship.
Give us a call at (940) 387-3330 or contact us here to discover how Colorful Hearing can get your family reconnected!
We accept cash, all major credit cards, paypal, and personal checks.
