Some days you just can't win....

Several weeks ago my husband was asking my mother a question. She didn't respond (he has a very soft voice and she is hard of hearing and often forgets to adjust her hearing aids). I asked the question again louder. No response. I again repeated it (louder). Again no response. Louder still, I repeated the question. Mom turned to me, practically crying, and said "Please don't yell at me".

Fast forward to today. We were waiting for the delivery of her new mattress. The delivery people had called to say they would be arriving in 15 minutes. My husband heard them pull up outside, so he and I discussed, in her presence, taking the car out of the garage so they could bring the mattress through that way. The dog barked as they entered the house and I had to hold him back from running down the hall. She looked at him, and I told her, "He wants to go help". She heard one of the workmen talking on the phone, but couldn't discern what was being said, so called out "Yes?" I said, "He's not talking to you, Mom".

So, to make a long story short, the mattress got delivered, I said, "Want to go check out your new bed?" and she was pissed that no one told her the delivery people were there so she could supervise the delivery. I told her I thought she knew, and she said, "Did I respond to you?" Half the time she doesn't. We've seen how well it works to keep raising my voice until she does. Any suggestions?