Parent with hearing loss

[Anonymous]

My parent has hearing loss and has been wearing hearing aids since they turned about 60, so for about 15 years. i'm grateful they were willing to get hearing aids and they do help a lot. But they have changed hearing aids recently and the new ones aren't calibrated well yet. So they are either yelling when they speak or whispering. I am AuDHD with sensory challenges around loud sounds and yelling makes me shut down.

I will ask them to level down a bit when they get really bad, but they get so angry and are insulted that I'm calling out their disability. I'm just trying to not jump out of my skin for entire conversations. They also don't believe in adult-diagnosed autism or ADHD so they don't believe I have anything wrong with me and that I choose to be this way.

How do you handle this?

[Anonymous]

Could you accompany your parent to an audiologist for some tests? Perhaps his hearing has worsened. Technology has caught up and hearing aids are more comfortable and effective now.

Also consider that there could also be an earwax buildup- my elderly mom’s hearing was adversely affected from this. Had to have a semi complicated ear wax removal procedure repeatedly - the OTC methods didn’t work.

[Anonymous]

No need to mention your autism. Just say: we’re going to the audiologist because your hearing aid isn’t working. Make the appointment. I agree it could be something other than the device, but it needs to be checked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No need to mention your autism. Just say: we’re going to the audiologist because your hearing aid isn’t working. Make the appointment. I agree it could be something other than the device, but it needs to be checked out.

This. Clearly the device needs to be adjusted.

My mom always wants to "get her money's worth", maybe that would motivate.

[Anonymous]

You have more compassion. I have developed a hearing loss as I get older and it’s tough to regulate volume when you don’t hear well. You want compassion for your disability but don’t send willing to give your parent any. The vast majority of elderly people with hearing go loss do not wear hearing aids. This is due to the cost, vanity, or thinking they don’t need to wear them.

[Anonymous]

Can you ask them to work on the calibration with someone else for a week? I don't know how long it takes to do.

[Anonymous]

WHAT?

[Anonymous]

It can take visits over several months to hunger them properly calibrated. Even then, their effectiveness varies by setting. I speak from experience as a younger hearing aid user.

May I suggest that you wear earplugs if it’s irritating for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It can take visits over several months to hunger them properly calibrated. Even then, their effectiveness varies by setting. I speak from experience as a younger hearing aid user.

May I suggest that you wear earplugs if it’s irritating for you?

Have not hunger