How to broach a tricky subject?

You could actually suggest that you both book a hearing test and go together. In that way she won’t feel “single out” or in way embarrassed.

Invite her round to your house to watch a film. If she needs the volume turning up, then there's your cue to point out her hearing loss.

It depends on her personality. My mum drove everybody crazy with her constant repetition if "Pardon?" But got mad if we suggested she needed her hearing checked and ultimately refused to wear hearing aids when it became obvious even to her. I wouldn't suggest to a friend that we get our hearing checked together. I think that's a bit weird! I might get mine checked and talk about it to her, emphasising how easy it was and how it confirmed I had less than perfect hearing.

If you find the answer could you please tell me. My DH definitely needs hearing aids but totally ignores the problem. I have to repeat myself constantly. I am either whispering or facing the wrong way.
I hope someone comes up with a good suggestion for you Cabbie21

Grandmabatty

It depends on her personality. My mum drove everybody crazy with her constant repetition if "Pardon?" But got mad if we suggested she needed her hearing checked and ultimately refused to wear hearing aids when it became obvious even to her. I wouldn't suggest to a friend that we get our hearing checked together. I think that's a bit weird! I might get mine checked and talk about it to her, emphasising how easy it was and how it confirmed I had less than perfect hearing.

That’s probably a better solution. I have good friends where I’d be happy to go and have a hearing test with and not think it’s weird at all, but we are all different.

I have two friends within a group who I think could do with hearing aids as they clearly miss parts of conversations

I always wondered why people get offended when someone suggests that their hearing is deteriorating. After all when we need glasses, we happily go along to the opticians. I myself have noticed that I now am having difficulty hearing some things, and realise that I must make an appointment to get it sorted, but I'm not the least bit offended if someone mentions it to me, why would I be? It's not something to be ashamed of!

That reminds me, I need to look mine out and see if I can get them to work..?

People tend not to be tactful when telling someone they're deaf, so that may be why people react badly. (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it)

I can't give advice, because for some reason I'm really unreasonable about my hearing loss.

My husband has hearing aids but won’t wear them ( even though they cost thousands!) He gets ratty if he doesn’t hear things so I don’t comment anymore. He finds them uncomfortable and says they give him eczema. Ah well, worse things at sea, as they say

We were on holiday, a tour of Kenya. One lady in the group was constantly shouting “PARDON” I had no option but to mention her hearing, it was so obvious I asked quite bluntly if she had thought about trying hearing aids. Her reply was she couldn’t be bothered they were uncomfortable and too expensive to think about. I have to say she was really quite a strong minded opinionated lady who once her mind was made up ………. She didn’t make the trip easy at all.

Hearing aids are FREE - paying thousands is bonkers. Mine are NHS and state of the art - they bluetooth to my smartphone and I can make all sorts of alterations. The are brilliant.

What is this nonsense about not wanting to acknowledge hearing loss? - I have had my aids for years - hearing the birdsong is a delight. Hearing loss is not something to be ashamed of.

I have said to several friends that hearing aids might help them - no problem, no insult, no offense. Just tell her.

Oh luckygirl the woman was a nightmare! My mother wore hearing aids ( from a young age ) I am very comfortable speaking about hearing aids with people. I’d say this lady was just one of life’s “characters” !

Cabbie..if she is a friend why don't you just tell her that you think her hearing is deteriorating and she could benefit from a hearing test.. Surely friends support each other..

Luckygirl3

Hearing aids are FREE - paying thousands is bonkers. Mine are NHS and state of the art - they bluetooth to my smartphone and I can make all sorts of alterations. The are brilliant.

What is this nonsense about not wanting to acknowledge hearing loss? - I have had my aids for years - hearing the birdsong is a delight. Hearing loss is not something to be ashamed of.

I have said to several friends that hearing aids might help them - no problem, no insult, no offense. Just tell her.

Totally agree with you. Out of interest are yours rechargeable?

I think people get tetchy about hearing loss because it is associated either with disability or old age, or both. The same cannot be said about glasses as they are far more prosaic and worn by young and old alike. Glasses can also be a quasi fashion accessory and are notionally connected to studiousness or intellect. None of which is attributed to deafness or hearing aids.

If I can’t see, I get glasses; if I can’t chew, I get dentures; ego, if I can’t hear, I get hearing aids - that is my philosophy.

I wear have worn glasses for many, many years, but have stopped wearing my hearing aids as, after treatment, most of my hearing has returned.

Suggest having wax removed? One of my friends was totally deaf, and once yet he was was removed, miraculously regained her hearing.

If I think someone's struggling with hearing, I will mention it but I always tell them it might easily be wax build-up. (as it could be). People don't seem to be as resistant to the idea that their ears need syringing as they are to the idea that they need hearing aids, & it helps them take that first step. I second Lucky Girl's praise for NHS hearing aids,
I have bluetooths as well, free batteries & tubing & reviews & repairs, as well as them being free to start with. NHS Audiology services I've dealt with are pretty patient-friendly too.

Luckygirl3

Hearing aids are FREE - paying thousands is bonkers. Mine are NHS and state of the art - they bluetooth to my smartphone and I can make all sorts of alterations. The are brilliant.

What is this nonsense about not wanting to acknowledge hearing loss? - I have had my aids for years - hearing the birdsong is a delight. Hearing loss is not something to be ashamed of.

I have said to several friends that hearing aids might help them - no problem, no insult, no offense. Just tell her.

Not free here,unfortunately. Wish they were. We don’t have the luxury of an NHS.

My husband refused to accept that he had a problem with his hearing, until I stopped talking to him. When he asked why, I said there was no point talking to him as he obviously couldn't hear what I was saying.
He went for a hearing test, and was told that his hearing had been damaged by gunshots during his time in the army. That made it more acceptable to him than it being caused by age.

I wear hearing aids; have done for 14 years. They generally work well. I can make adjustments via my phone for different environments etc. Even with them on I sometimes mis-hear. Also accents are harder especially on the phone. If there is a problem I just explain that I wear hearing aids and tell someone what I need to make things easier eg. Looking at me whilst speaking so I semi lip read or speak more slowly on the phone etc etc.

I too just dont understand why some find it difficult to accept hearing loss, inevitably making life more difficult for themselves and others.

Cabbie I would just ask your friend whether she has thought about getting a hearing test as you have noticed that she may not be always hearing things at the group you both attend. Depending on her response, take it from there.

JamesandJon33

If you find the answer could you please tell me. My DH definitely needs hearing aids but totally ignores the problem. I have to repeat myself constantly. I am either whispering or facing the wrong way.
I hope someone comes up with a good suggestion for you Cabbie21

Same here, it’s my fault for not being right beside him when I speak.

On the plane yesterday the chap next to him said something to him 3 times and each time he misheard him, of course that was due to the noisy plane!

Sigh………

Unfortunately hearing aids are not free in Wales. The hearing test may be, but there is a wait locally of 3-6 months. I've just had to have a hearing test privately and now have hearing aids, all within a week, what a difference, but expensive, more raid on savings but well worth it.

I wear hearing aids , they are a great help , I bought them as I was told there is a long waiting list for NHS aids
I am having problems with them now making my ears itchy ! Can anyone suggest a solution ?
I did get a spray of olive oil but this just clogged up my aids