My mother has a loss of hearing and always has the TV on full volume. She always makes me feel guilty for asking her to turn it down. She refuses to have a hearing test. Can you help me?

We all feel guilt, no matter what we do, was it the right thing to do, was it the wrong thing, could I have done this, that, it's always in the back of our heads.

Maybe if you get 2 pairs of earplugs, plug both in, sit down with your mom and see how that works out. If you can't plug in two, how about YOU were a pair, sit down with her, and gently suggest she try them on and talk about the acoustics, and how clear the sound is. Maybe she will be curious to see and take them, put them on, and keep them on.

Lord knows that lour T.V. drives us all crazy at one time or another so know that you're not alone in that area.

Hope this helps.

This is a tough spot, you have my sympathies! We went through this with my dad and grandmother. For grandma we got some wireless headphones. She had the TV as loud as she wanted and we didn't suffer. For my dad, we gave him the living room and converted another room for our TV. We were all content that way. When he finally moved to a hospice, he also got wireless earphones but didn't care for TV much after that...

she needs to get a hearing test.. its the safety issues that I think of.. listening for the doorbell, answering the phone, simple things like hearing the microwave buzz or the boiling water on the stove..
. we had a simple solution for my Mom.. either get a hearing test or your granddaughter does not come and visit you without supervision. Its harsh but it works.. now my Mom has the independance she needed and can watch and hear her grandaughter with no problems.

Turn on your TV's subtitles.

cc

When my mother was still living with my father the volume was on with closed caption. She could hear . . he could read. Now that she's in the nursing home the volume is completely off. It's so quiet that I need to check on him occasionally forgetting that he's reading the tv. lol

It's good to see all of the great answers here, and I agree with all of them. if she won't have a hearing test, perhaps the granddaughter can politely 'shame' her into a visit to the doctor. "Grandmom why didn't you hear me calling you?, lets go have our ears tested like they do in school!"

Using subtitles and parental controls (or tv control) for maximum volume will help too! Teenagers seem to do the same thing too, and TV companies know it! Besides your mother won't be able to change it back, especially if you make the change when she isn't around. After all you don't want to anger her by changing things.

And wireless headphones! Couldn't live without them here when Mom was still at home with us. We still use them! And with the invention of light easy to wear WIRELESS, it makes it even easier for elders to comply.

There are many solutions to a single problem,and sometimes we need to employ different ones at different times! Great ideas everyone!!

I had this same problem with my mother. She does have a hearing old, but it is old and (30 years) and needs to be replaced. Now that she is in the nursing home it is bothering everyone else. ANyway, the nurses arranged for a hearing test and she needs to spend down some of her money in order to stay on medicaid, so now she has the money to get a new hearing aid for the left ear and at last one for the right ear. Now we will see if she can keep track of both of the hearing aids in the nursing home when she gets them.

What I did when I was taking care of her for five years, I wore cotton balls in my ears. She and her boyfriend insisted on having the TV on so loud you could hear it all the way down the hall in the assisted living apartment. Half of hte time they feel asleep over the TV anyway and I would go over and turn it down after they fell asleep.

I, totally understand. since you are caring for her. Make an appt for you both, i have hearing loss because i felt guilty. It is not fair for her to do this to you. Make that appt ,if only for her, and remind her-she is in YOUR care & in order for you to do it, she has to do her part.

My dad refuses to wear a hearing aide so one year when he came to visit I went to the local radio shak and bought this pair of headphones that plug into the tv. He can turn them up as loud as he wants and the rest of us can watch at a normal level. You can now go online and find them on Amazon; we now have ones for him that plug into the stereo sound so he has no issues with hearing the TV.

I agree with SCDaughter07.... wireless earphones/headphones are the way to go. There are models that are VERY lightweight, easy to wear and really REALLY help. Search for Beachaudio and take a look at the lightweight model. I used the over the ear headphones, but they seemed to bother my mother sometimes. I think the over the head earphones would be better.

BUT... how you introduce them is more important than the type you get. Take it from me, it has to be THEIR idea, or they will not use it.

SO... tell Mom (or Dad) that you are having problems with the TV... or the neighbors, with regards to the volume. SO... you got a FREE pair of earphones/headphones that they bought for you so you could still listen to TV and not be a bother.

OR... tell Mom that you have a FREE product that the company sent you and You are testing them for the company. FIRST.. you wear them.. and do a short report (with Mom/Dad of course) and then ask if THEY would like to help with the report too. (Maybe offer a few dollars for their time). This 'tricky' way of doing it, may just work.

Of course those who want to INSIST on other using it may have a harder road, but that is your decision. My mother LOVED being able to hear her shows and not be a 'bother' to anyone else.

I hope this helps.