Will he ever admit his hearing is going?

My husband has had hearing problems for a few years now, every time we say anything to him, we get "Eh?" or "What?" and it drives us nuts, particularly late at night when the TV is too loud, but he says it`s just right! A couple of years ago, he sent off for a couple of hearing aids from a newspaper ad, and they worked brilliantly, but he didn`t wear it for long, said he didn`t want to wear the batteries out, so he wears us out instead!!

I should have said that the treatment DH had from the NHS was fantastic and normal service has been resumed. Only problem is that the batteries run out quickly. They are theoretically free, but I think the NHS makes the person who gives them out buy them from his wages, he is so mean with them. Added to which, the centre is 15 miles away, so DH buys them.

It works the other way too nanpug - my OH has Parkinsons and it makes him unable to speak at a normal volume - I spend a lot of time saying pardon! To start with he blamed it on my hearing - which has been tested as normal (something about me works!! - hooray!).

When we were speaking to the PD nurse about this she laughed and said "By definition, all partners of people with PD are going deaf!"

We have disagreements about what has and hasn't been said as well, ayse, but that's probably because both our memories are not what they were!

My OH knew he had a problem with his hearing but refused to do anything about it - he said he had already tried hearing aids! I got so cross with the TV being very loud and him mis-hearing everything I said. Finally I told him that it wasn't fair on everyone else (including me) to have to repeat everything. Eventually he went to the docs and was refered to the hospital and after a while his hearing aid was ready. They suggested he had two because of his difficulties. Finally he is able to hear much better, the TV is at normal volume and he can hear what I say. He doesn't wear them all the time as he finds the outside noise in town quite uncomfortable. Still, that's Ok by me as life has now returned to 'normal'.
My sympathies to anyone whose OH refuses to take some positive steps. Life has improved for both of us so much and no more arguements about what has and hasn't been said.

nanapug my DH is the same, watching the TV is a nightmare I have now got to the point of repeating something twice then refusing to do it again, in which time you have missed the whole plot... might as well give up.

My DH works in an office full of young girls and how he manages with all that is going on around him to hear anything is beyond me... but according to him there is nothing wrong with his hearing.

I have that problem with my DH, nanapug, and of course it's not that his hearing is going, it's because I 'mumble'!

Actually, I don't think you are being unreasonable at all! It would drive me batty. Mr P has the habit (thankfully not too often) of saying something to me as he is walking out of the room, so I end up sort of shouting "Pardon?" .

I think he's just showing off that he can walk and talk at the same time.

In my experience it will take about five years nanapug and, in the meantime, stop muttering.