Maybe your family is right...?

Ah, that slightly awkward admission you eventually have to make. Perhaps your wife makes a slightly annoyed comment that you haven’t caught what she’s saying, or she’s hoarse from repeating herself. Maybe your husband jokes that you’ve stuffed your ears full of cotton wool or left one too many layers of hairspray in there. Have you ever thought: “Ugh, why does everyone speak so quietly and mumble so much?!”

“You never hear what I’m saying.” “Can you turn down the TV?” “I have to repeat myself all the time!” “Maybe you should get your hearing checked…”

If you’ve heard something similar from your partner, friends or family, it might actually be worth paying a little extra attention. After all, they may have a point. For many people, the first suspicion of hearing loss comes not from themselves, but from the people around them.

You might feel that you can hear “perfectly well”, while your partner feels that you’re constantly asking them to repeat themselves, misunderstanding things or missing parts of the conversation.

Make the opening less genderedStrengthen the transition to hearing loss

“But I can hear perfectly well – just not all the time!”

Yes – and you can hear most things very well even if your hearing has deteriorated or is gradually getting worse. Which areas of hearing or hearing thresholds are affected, and how this manifests itself, varies from person to person.

Hearing loss often develops gradually. The brain is incredibly good at adapting, so you may get used to certain sounds becoming quieter or speech becoming more difficult to understand. Perhaps you can still hear that someone is speaking, but you don’t always catch what they are saying. Difficulties are particularly common when there is background noise, several people are speaking at once, the speaker is some distance away, or someone is speaking quietly. As a result, it can be difficult to recognise just how much your hearing has actually changed.

For the person experiencing hearing loss

It can be upsetting to be told that you aren’t hearing well enough.

Some people are surprised. Others become irritated or defensive. Perhaps you find yourself thinking:

“But I can hear!”“They’re just mumbling.”“There’s something wrong with the TV.”“I’m not old enough to need hearing aids.”

These are all perfectly understandable reactions. Hearing loss can be difficult to acknowledge because it isn’t just about hearing itself. It can also feel like a reminder that your body has changed.

But getting your hearing checked doesn’t mean you’ve decided to wear hearing aids.

A hearing test is simply the first step towards finding out how your hearing is actually doing.

For partners and family members

It isn’t always easy to be the person who constantly has to repeat themselves, either. Family members may feel frustrated when conversations are misunderstood, the TV is too loud, or they feel they aren’t being heard. Over time, this can affect communication and relationships. Some people may start speaking louder. Others find themselves repeating things over and over, or withdrawing from conversations because it becomes exhausting.

It’s important to remember that this usually isn’t about an unwillingness to listen – it’s about the possibility that the person simply cannot hear what is being said.

Add a clear next stepSoften the medical wordingTighten the opening explanation

That’s why it can be helpful to do this together

If your partner, a family member or a friend has started commenting on your hearing, it can be helpful to involve them in the process. Feel free to bring them along to your hearing test.

Family members can describe situations you may not have noticed yourself, and they can provide specific examples of when communication becomes difficult.

This can give your audiologist a better understanding of how your hearing works in everyday life – not just what the results of a hearing test show.

And what if it turns out you need hearing aids?

In that case, it can also be beneficial to bring someone you trust. Together, you can receive information about how hearing aids work, what to expect in the beginning, and how you can make communication easier.

Getting used to hearing aids takes time. Sounds may seem different than before, and both the person wearing the hearing aids and those around them may need to adjust their expectations and communication habits. Family members can provide valuable support during this period.

They can also learn how best to communicate with someone who has hearing loss – for example, by getting the person’s attention before speaking, speaking clearly when necessary, and reducing unnecessary background noise.

It’s about more than just hearing better

Good hearing is about being able to participate. Taking part in conversations around the dinner table. Keeping up with what’s happening in the family. Hearing what the grandchildren have to say. Participating in meetings, social gatherings and activities.

And perhaps most importantly of all: being able to communicate with the people who matter most to you.

So the next time your partner says: “I think you’re having trouble hearing.” … perhaps it’s worth finding out whether they’re right.

It doesn’t have to be anything dramatic. It could be the beginning of a better everyday life – both for you and for the people around you.

Contact AudioPlus on 990 99 779 or via our contact form if you or someone you care about has started experiencing hearing difficulties.

We can help with hearing tests and assessments, guidance and, if needed, hearing aid fitting. Of course, you are welcome to bring your partner, a family member or a friend with you throughout the entire process.

Good hearing isn’t just important for the person experiencing hearing loss – it matters to everyone communicating together.

Kind regards, All of us at AudioPlus Norge AS