How to broach a tricky subject?

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

My DH is exactly the same. He blames me!😡

I have worn NHS hearing aids for 20 years now. Couldn't manage without them.

As Luckygirl says, they are free and so are the batteries. And they connect to bluetooth on my phone, so phone calls are much easier now as the call goes straight to the aids.

At 94 Mum has worn them since she was about 30. We both cannot understand why anyone is reluctant to admit to hearing loss. So cannot understand why it is a tricky subject?

aggie I occasionally have itchy ears. My doctor prescribes a spray and it clears up within a couple of days. Not happened now for quite a while though.

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

Went to GP who referred to Specsavers who are agents for NHS. Appointment cam through in 10 days - hearing tested, aids prescribed and I walked out with them in my ears - 10 days start to finish.

You can now self-refer to Specsavers branches that are agents for NHS and do not even have to go through GP.

To the person who enquired - mine are not rechargeable. I am quite happy to put batteries in if it saves £thousands!!

aggie

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

They make mine horribly itchy and bright red, too.

Cossy

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.

Great idea.......suggest you both go together and make out that you need the moral support. You might add that you are concerned that either of you might not hear an oncoming vehicle when crossing the road or you might both miss something important at your regular meetings.

It's a tricky one and it does depend on someone's personality.
I have finally persuaded my OH to get his hearing tested and we go this month. He is definitely having problems as he misses whole slices of the plot on some TV that we watch together and often is oblivious to some things that I've said beyond the usual tactical deafness.
I tried the tack " you're not deaf , if you should need a hearing aid you will just be getting some help with your ears in the same way that you're not blind.... it's just that your spectacles give you some help with your eyes....." . He seemed to listen to that ??
Possibly some GNs would consider that rather tactless.... it wasn't meant that way obviously.!!!!

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Update. On a recent car journey with this friend it came up naturally about wax in the ears ( I forget how ) and I know friend had trouble with wax so I just said it is a good idea to get it checked and my optician now offers this service.
I left it there but later I got a lift with the couple and her husband obviously has worse hearing problems. I bet the TV is on very loud in their house!

Curlywhirly

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!

People get offended both when their hearing loss is mentioned and if you query their eyesight, if they either have not noticed that they no longer hear or see as well as they did.

Another reason could be that they do know they no longer hear as well /see as well as formerly, but they don't want to admit it because they see these things as "old peoples' ailments" and they do not want to admit they are old.

In either case, you risk hurting or offending the other person by remarking on their apparent diminished sight or hearing, but if you do not do so, they time will come when you no longer dare accept a lift from them and you will find yourself constantly having to repeat whatever you just said.

Aggie,re itchy ears.I have hearing aids and my ears get annoyingly itchy. I’ve tried different drops and creams but have found Cedis Gel really helps. Boots recommend it. Sold on Amazon and online pharmacies