As people age, everyone starts to see signs of their bodies slowing down. Sometimes things don't work as well as they used to. When you notice your husband being less attentive than usual and turning the television up louder and louder, you might question how well he hears. Even when he says he can hear just fine, you probably strongly suspect you are dealing with 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.
Meeting with the audiologist after the exam will give you a lot of information. This person can explain how much loss there is and what kind. He may recommend you talk to an otologist about cochlear implants or suggest a hearing aid. Since this is not a life and death situation, you and your partner don't have to make a decision immediately.
There are things you can do to make communicating with your partner easier and more effective. When you talk to him, look directly at him. You might touch his hand, face, or back to get his attention first. Avoid trying to have a conversation with the television on. Background noises make it hard for him to understand what you are saying. Don't yell or speak like you are talking to someone who doesn't understand English.
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.
If you have a spouse who is going through a hearing loss, one of the best things you can do is accept whatever stage of acceptance he is in. This is a personal struggle, but one he doesn't have to face alone. That's what partnership in marriage is all about.
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.
Meeting with the audiologist after the exam will give you a lot of information. This person can explain how much loss there is and what kind. He may recommend you talk to an otologist about cochlear implants or suggest a hearing aid. Since this is not a life and death situation, you and your partner don't have to make a decision immediately.
There are things you can do to make communicating with your partner easier and more effective. When you talk to him, look directly at him. You might touch his hand, face, or back to get his attention first. Avoid trying to have a conversation with the television on. Background noises make it hard for him to understand what you are saying. Don't yell or speak like you are talking to someone who doesn't understand English.
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.
If you have a spouse who is going through a hearing loss, one of the best things you can do is accept whatever stage of acceptance he is in. This is a personal struggle, but one he doesn't have to face alone. That's what partnership in marriage is all about.
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