topic Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked? in Wellness

How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

depglass — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 15:15:07 GMT

He spent his life working outside with heavy equipment. They supposedly always wore ear plugs. Now he can't even hear the seat belt buzzer, and the TV has to be jarringly loud. Missed words? Its almost comical except that I am running out of patience. I know he lost his hearing working to support me, so I don't push this. Any suggestions?

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

DrKelli — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 15:22:02 GMT

I don't know if I can offer any suggestions, but I am 56 and suffered sudden onset hearing loss in one ear and it drove me crazy. I was so off balance because I could hear out of one ear pretty well, but not the other and sitting in meetings was so frustrating because I missed half or more of the conversation.

I did start wearing a hearing aid last year and it has made a big difference. It is so small that no one knows I even wear it unless i say something about it.

I'm a safety manager for a company and I would jump on that bandwagon that the heavy equipment probably contributed to his hearing loss (but in my case--it was a nerve issue). Hearing aids are so much better today--I can control mine from my phone and it also bluetooths with my phone (Iphone) so I hear conversations in my ear rather than have to hold the phone up to my ear.

I would push it if I were you, it should be part of an annual check up.

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

2blonde — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 15:22:30 GMT

Explain to him about the new evidence that hearing loss is related to dementia. They aren't sure what the connection is yet, but they think that not hearing things causes the cognitive part of the brain to deteriorate due to lack of input. I know if it were me, that would be enough for me to get a hearing aid!

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

Zhills — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 15:24:58 GMT

My SO got his hearing checked, got hearing aids....

refuses to wear them....no help!

$3,500 down the drain. gluuug!

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

2blonde — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 15:36:46 GMT

@Zhills Please see my previous post right above yours.......he needs to understand how this may affect him!

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

geezerette — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 15:42:49 GMT

I guess there's just something about men and hearing aids. My husband keeps putting off getting tested too. My father was the same way. And I've talked to many friends that say the same thing about the men in their lives too. I don't know why this is, my husband had no problem getting glasses to see, why not get something to help you hear?

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

KingstonsMom — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 15:50:56 GMT

@Zhills wrote:
My SO got his hearing checked, got hearing aids....

refuses to wear them....no help!

$3,500 down the drain. gluuug!

We have a next door neighbor like that. He bought them, but never wears them and conversations with him can be pretty funny.

The other day, I mentioned to him that I saw our family of otters playing in the creek behind our houses (they live in a lake, connected to the creek).

He later asked DH if I was sure I saw alligators in the creek, LOL!

We don't have any alligators in the lake or creek.

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

sweetee2 — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 15:57:42 GMT

Dad said the issue with hearing aids is that it magnified all other sounds also to the point of being a knowing. Every thing was loud, flushing the toilet, cupboards slammed etc... but he got used to them.

But more importantly is they have found that Thier is a corolation between brain function and hearing lose. I don't remember WOW much, but there is a significant percentage lost everything year. And they have come a long way. You can't even see them anymore.

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

Tinkrbl44 — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 18:41:56 GMT

@depglass wrote:
He spent his life working outside with heavy equipment. They supposedly always wore ear plugs. Now he can't even hear the seat belt buzzer, and the TV has to be jarringly loud. Missed words? Its almost comical except that I am running out of patience. I know he lost his hearing working to support me, so I don't push this. Any suggestions?

@depglass

When was the last time YOU had your hearing checked?

Is he now retired? Maybe you should make appointments for the both of you, on the same day, back to back as one of those things "we needed to have this done". Like an annual eye exam ..... or whatever.

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

RedTop — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 18:42:36 GMT

My husband has significant hearing loss, and I too was running out of patience with him not agreeing to a simple hearing test---especially since it was covered thru the VA, and no money was coming out of his pocket.

Since nothing my daughters or I said was making an impact on him being tested, my approach was to point it out every time he didn't hear something correctly. Once my husband was reminded in front of others, how many times he was answering incorrectly, along with me asking him not to answer the phone because I didn't trust him to hear a conversation correctly, he agreed to the test.

He became overwhelmed immediately with his first set of hearing aids because of background noise, and stopped wearing them. By the time I got him to have them checked, and adjusted, they were outdated, so he was retested for new hearing aids. His hearing loss was quite a bit higher than before, but this last time I made sure he fully understands the adjustment capabilities with digital hearing aids, so that background noise is not prominent. My husband is wearing the hearing aids daily, and loves the device he wears around his neck when he watches TV, that transmits sound from the TV into his hearing aids. No more blaring TV!

Having gone thru this with my mom last year, the place to start is with your husbands medical doctor, and a simple hearing test in the office. With that information, the doctors office sets up a referral with an audiologist for a more definitive hearing exam. After the test, my mom was shown two hearing aids most recommended for her degree of hearing loss. I convinced her to go for the lower priced model which was $2500. Having the medical test information from the doctors office meant that mom was not charged sales tax on her purchase of the hearing aids.

Just like with my husband, when moms hearing aids came in, they were set by a computer program to moms comfort level in the office. After two weeks she went back for an adjustment, and has worn them every day since then. Digital hearing aids are set precisely to an individuals hearing needs, so there is greater satisfaction and more success in wearing them.

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

SeaMaiden — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 18:48:31 GMT

I certainly would not want someone telling

me what to do. It is his hearing, his business. Sure, mention it once....but if he is fine with his hearing, then do not nag at him.

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

Tinkrbl44 — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 18:48:31 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
My husband has significant hearing loss, and I too was running out of patience with him not agreeing to a simple hearing test---especially since it was covered thru the VA, and no money was coming out of his pocket.

Since nothing my daughters or I said was making an impact on him being tested, my approach was to point it out every time he didn't hear something correctly. Once my husband was reminded in front of others, how many times he was answering incorrectly, along with me asking him not to answer the phone because I didn't trust him to hear a conversation correctly, he agreed to the test.

He became overwhelmed immediately with his first set of hearing aids because of background noise, and stopped wearing them. By the time I got him to have them checked, and adjusted, they were outdated, so he was retested for new hearing aids. His hearing loss was quite a bit higher than before, but this last time I made sure he fully understands the adjustment capabilities with digital hearing aids, so that background noise is not prominent. My husband is wearing the hearing aids daily, and loves the device he wears around his neck when he watches TV, that transmits sound from the TV into his hearing aids. No more blaring TV!

Having gone thru this with my mom last year, the place to start is with your husbands medical doctor, and a simple hearing test in the office. With that information, the doctors office sets up a referral with an audiologist for a more definitive hearing exam. After the test, my mom was shown two hearing aids most recommended for her degree of hearing loss. I convinced her to go for the lower priced model which was $2500. Having the medical test information from the doctors office meant that mom was not charged sales tax on her purchase of the hearing aids.

Just like with my husband, when moms hearing aids came in, they were set by a computer program to moms comfort level in the office. After two weeks she went back for an adjustment, and has worn them every day since then. Digital hearing aids are set precisely to an individuals hearing needs, so there is greater satisfaction and more success in wearing them.

@RedTop

Great idea ..... and the obvious place to start!

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

ChynnaBlue — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 18:57:31 GMT

@2blonde wrote:
Explain to him about the new evidence that hearing loss is related to dementia. They aren't sure what the connection is yet, but they think that not hearing things causes the cognitive part of the brain to deteriorate due to lack of input. I know if it were me, that would be enough for me to get a hearing aid!

This is a tricky one.

While there have been studies done that link hearing loss to dementia and Alzheimer's, there are no studies (yet) to show that hearing aids will help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's.

I hope they can prove a link, because as of today, most insurance plans will not cover the cost of hearing aids, which can be very expensive. If they can prove that they can prevent dementia and Alzheimer's, maybe we can use that to pressure insurance companies into covering hearing aids, as they would be less expensive than the costs associated with the care and treatment of patients with dementia and Alzheimer's.

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

ChynnaBlue — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 19:00:25 GMT

@depglass wrote:
He spent his life working outside with heavy equipment. They supposedly always wore ear plugs. Now he can't even hear the seat belt buzzer, and the TV has to be jarringly loud. Missed words? Its almost comical except that I am running out of patience. I know he lost his hearing working to support me, so I don't push this. Any suggestions?

My entire household conspired to get my grandfather to get his hearing checked when I was a kid. We would all speak quietly and turn the volume on the TV down whenever he wasn't looking. After a week of that, he finally agreed to let my dad take him to the doctor and get the hearing aids, which he did wear.

But as others have mentioned, if someone doesn't want to go, getting the hearing aids may not be a solution if the person doesn't wear them.

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

violann — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 19:12:32 GMT

@DrKelli- Excellent and very helpful comments! Just wanted to point out that hearing loss from excessive noise is also "nerve loss".

Conductive loss ( the other kind) comes from too much wax, damage to the tiny bones in the middle ear, damage to the ear drum.

Typically, hearing loss in older people is often "mixed" loss, a combined action of both conductive and nerve loss.

( I may be using obsolete language, but the ideas are pretty much the same as they were when I was in college).

WANTED TO ADD- hearing aids, especially for first time wearers, should be prescribed with the input of an AUDIOLOGIST with the qualification "CCC AUD". A SALESPERSON may NOT be qualified to recommend the best services for every client.

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

Shelbelle — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 19:27:19 GMT

Maybe the next routine visit to his doctor, you could have the doc tell him it is suggested as a routine screening to have hearing checked. Set it up with the doc ahead of time.

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

reiki604 — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 19:36:49 GMT

Is he an adult?????? It's up to him to decide what he wants to do after you speak to him about your concerns. It's his life and his body. You are only responsible for how you deal with his decisions.

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

Zhills — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 19:46:11 GMT

@reiki604 wrote:
Is he an adult?????? It's up to him to decide what he wants to do after you speak to him about your concerns. It's his life and his body. You are only responsible for how you deal with his decisions.

I agree wholeheartedly. But stubbornness is powerful. He guesses what he thinks you said and is wrong 98% of the time. I retreat to my computer. Conversation is literally impossible!

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

DrKelli — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 19:59:42 GMT

@violann wrote:

WANTED TO ADD- hearing aids, especially for first time wearers, should be prescribed with the input of an AUDIOLOGIST with the qualification "CCC AUD". A SALESPERSON may NOT be qualified to recommend the best services for every client.

YES! Please see an audiologist! They can administer the hearing test and do the hearing aid fitting. I started at the ENT and waited to see if I would regain any function. I was getting so frustrated say "hunh?" or "what" during conversations, I contacted the audiologist about a month after the conversation with the ENT.

Re: How to get DH to get his hearing checked?

Carmie — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 13:11:07 GMT

@reiki604My husband suffers from hearing loss too. He is in denial and has a million reasons why he shouldn't get and wear a hearing aid or even be tested.

When I grew up, my mother was legally deaf, my father was very hearing impaired as he got older and I have one sister who is deaf in her left ear and my youngest brother also suffers from massive hearing loss. They all have worn hearing devices.

Unless you have lived with someone who can't hear and refuses to do anything about it, you have no idea of how it is difficult to ignore.

Sometimes all of our TV's are turned up to full volume at the same time He can't hear his cell phone ringing and when I tell him, he says "what?" When I repeat speaking louder, he accuses me of yelling at him.

When he is asked questions, he gives crazy answers and sounds foolish sometimes because he is so far off base. It's scary when he drives because he can't hear traffic, plus the radio in the car is so loud, I can't hear it either.

Many men have a stigma about wearing a hearing device. The people who live with them suffer too.

I have set up appointments with the doctor and he says he'll go, then he cancels at the last minute. I have threatened to duct tape him and carry him to see a doctor. I might have to.

Yes, it's his life, but it is affecting mine greatly. Turn your TV up to full volume and try to ignore that. Impossible.

My heart goes out to the OP, if you figure it out, clue me in.

corrected typo