Chance to win £250 - share with Specsavers - as a hearing care centre - your tips and experience on encouraging older family members to have a hearing test NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We have been working with the team at Specsavers - as a hearing care centre - over on our sister site, Gransnet on all things hearing.

There's some great content here.

Specsavers say "It's no secret that there's a bit of a stigma surrounding age-related hearing loss - not surprisingly; and the clue is in the name, that it's age-related.... so having hearing loss isn't something that people always want to admit to as they get older. This can be a big drawback when it comes to getting the issue sorted. Left unresolved though, hearing loss can affect every aspect of life, especially the things that are most important such as relationships with family and friends".

With this in mind, if you suspect age related hearing loss in a relative or close friend, what would you do? Have you ever had to gently encourage your parents to go and get their hearing tested? Did they realise it was bad or were they in denial? What signs of age related hearing loss have you noticed with your family?

We know from a recent survey with gransnetters that this is an issue for a large number - especially at Christmas

Please share any tips and experience of this on this thread and you would win a £250 voucher for the store of your choice (from a list).

thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Please add your comment by 2 January 2015. Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Since mum (58) had chemo and a double mastectomy - we've noticed her hearing has dramatically worsened. We approached the subject on getting her hearing tested, but initially she took offence and dismissed the thought of it. She is absolutely mortified at the thought of wearing a hearing aid - but we've explained they are invisible. We still cannot get her to get a hearing test done.

Point how rude it is to have to shout all the time

My Dad already has a hearing aid and my mum struggles at time. She has her television set up uncomfortably loud for me and failed to hear a distant siren when driving, so I keep suggesting she ought to get her hearing tested but she is resistant. I think because eye sight and hearing tends to deteriorate slowly people don't realise it is happening and think others are just mumbling!

My husband needs a hearing test but is resisting! I have been trying to encourage him by saying there is no stigma attached to wearing aids these days and how discreet they can be. Here's hoping!

my grandmother now passed, hated wearing her hearing aid. At this time they were larger and noticable, she would have been keener now they are discreeter and given the technology advancements.

I don't have any tips. My late Mum was going deaf, but she reckoned we just didn't speak clearly. Nothing could convince her.

Id like to try the tips, because nothing we have tried so far has worked with my father in law. I think he enjoys having very selective hearing. I suspect its an excuse and he can actually hear perfectly well.....

My mum is now 60 years old and shouts whilst talking and I have to repeat myself over and over when I am on the phone with her. She keeps the TV loud and I have suggested several times to go to have her ears checked. She doesn't want me to mention it at all, denies and says that I speak too quietly...

My DH is struggling to hear but always blames it on his ears producing too much wax. I think he is just looking for an excuse and in the meantime the kids and me suffer from continually repeating ourselves.
I think there needs to be more ads on the tv that show it's not just the OAP's that can benefit the hearing aids, because nothing I say will convince his!

People with hearing problems often tend to notice it less than people who witness it do. Typically they turn the volume up on the radio & television, & often shout when communicating, or are forever saying pardon? When this was noticed in my family we organised vising the doctor together, then attending appointments with our relative. By talking to them we were able to address their concerns, & get a lot of information off the web. Information is key to dispel the old myths of hearing aids the size of small house bricks etc. & also costing a fortune, when NHS advances have been great.

I have been telling my Aunt for about 15 years to go to her doctors to get her hearing checked but vanity always held her back, she can only hold a conversaation with you by watching what you say, no telephone etc. Well she actually went last month after all my & others 'nagging' and it turned out to just be just a build up of wax in both ears. She now has perfect hearing, please pass my story on to any people with 'problems'...

Just booked it and took mum there, when I had taken her out anyway - they said she was in desperate need of a hearing aid, but she has refused to go back to have one fitted - not much I can do about that - we've given it all the 'improved quality of life' will be able to hear kids/grandkids on phone etc - everyone has now resorted to emailing her - but all we get back is 'it's a waste of money as I might die in 6 months time!@ - what can you do??

I had to raise this with my father when he had turned the TV up so loudly that the neighbors complained! Re-runs of countdown at 5am were waking them up!!

He was fine though, when I told him just how loud it was he finally got tested and he used to love his aids afterwards.

Lucy

Personally, I try scare tactics and recite facts about health and how it affects it. My parents are pretty openminded about everything, but my nan is the worst and I don't think anything will convince her as she hates going to the hospital. She'd want a cure but she wouldn't want to know that there's anything wrong with her. I've tried everything to convince her.

I think our family is more open about all issues including health, so I don't see that this would be a problem discussing it. I think its really sad and frustrating when people ignore issues that could be faced up to and resolved and lead to a better quality of life!

Before my Nan moved away, we would see her and my grandad about once a week and I remember being young and realising my Nan's hearing was deteriorating. We had to constantly repeat ourselves and talk louder to her, but even then she wouldn't always hear us - and us being young, thought she was ignoring us! We would tell my mum who didn't think anything of it at first, until she noticed it herself and tried to broach the subject with my nan (her mum). My nan brushed it off, said she was fine. That she had my grandad and all that. I don't think some of the older generation want to believe that anything is wrong with them, to admit being old and needing help. Maybe it's a generational thing?

I've not seen my nan for years now as neither of us drive so I don't know if she got her hearing sorted in the end. She seems fine on the phone so I would guess she has.

I think if it's a paid for test, people would be more willing as they'd hate to waste the money. That said, I can't for the life of me get my grandma to get one. It just falls on deaf ears (pun not intended)

I try to get my older relatives to think of hearing and eye tests as yearly MOT's and encourage the results that they will get if they discover that they need a little help- every little helps

Honestly? I'd love some tips. My parents have just become so hard headed and never listen at all. I've run out of options.

to be honest im starting to think i need mine tested thereis so many various varieties of noise constantkke that i struggle my elderly setp father refuses to wear his hearing aid and contanstantl shouts what what!, he turns up the tv so loud we end upleaving the room she shouts when we r at the shops and to be honest is can be a real drain on the nerves, he sometimesappears like he is mad when we r out when he is fine im not sure how to sort it ouot as he is sensitive about it, ive bought ear fones all sorts but for some reason he is very reluctant but i end up with headaches and constantly repeating myself over and over im at my wits end some days

I think there needs to be a discreet way for doctors to be able to test for hearing. I can't convince the rents to do anything, but maybe if it came from a doctor they'd listen.

My nan hates taking her medicines and having tests done as she's so convinced that they're going to say she has a life threatening condition. I really don't know what to do.

We faced the situation that there was this concept of waiting for the NHS to provide and so refusing to go anywhere else. Yet Specsavers do the initial test for free I believe and there is no obligation to buy. So it can be so frustrating trying to explain this.

As parents / grandparents get older it gets harder and harder to get them to understand that what you are suggesting is in their best interests - You just have to hope that they realise and agree.

Once they had the test (and both have hearing aids now) - the improvement to their quality of life with better hearing has been immense. Just difficult to get that initial test done when they refuse.

I used to work in a nursing home many moons ago & they were gadgets available which worked like an external hearing aid - a little box with a microphone on connected by a wire to a headphone. This was great for the older residents, much cheaper than a hearing aid - but also gave some insight into how much easier life can be when hearing is improved so mabe loaning gadgets like these out (I imagine they are much more advanced now!!) to give people this experience which might push them onto having a hearing test & getting a hearing aid fitted.

This is something i petsobally find difficult to quantify. My mum gets distracted more now she is older and i do find myself repeating myself more and more often- however it is very difficult to say whether it is related to hearing loss or just general tiredness/ inattentiveness. I will encourage my mum to get a hearing check whilst getting an eye exam or maybe pop in when we are out shopping which keeps it low key.