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sophe509 Asked September 2015

Mom 'lost' her hearing aids, hides them, won't wear them. What to do?

Mom wraps the hearing aids in tissues and puts them in the drawer, or hides them so the 'thief' won't get them. She says she doesn't want to wear them. She can only barely hear without. You have to shout and be right in front of her so she can lip read. Or write it down in large print. She can read in spite of significant demential.
But how am I supposed to communicate with her? It's crazy-making.

GardenArtist Sep 2015
Sophe, I'm afraid if I don't keep track of these things I'll eventually forget them and end up doing them myself when I get older

sophe509 Sep 2015
GardenArtist: LOVE the idea of a notebook of what NOT to do when I get older. I have tried yelling, getting close and yelling, using a notepad to write the key words down, pantomime, but all is exhausting and unsuccessful most of the time.

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GardenArtist Sep 2015
There is something very peculiar about people who can't hear well, may or may not want hearing aids, but then won't wear them.

I know that amplification of sounds can require an often difficult adaptation, especially since so many peripheral sounds have been shut out for years w/o hearing aids. For years they've become accustomed to not hearing ambient noise, then suddenly there's all this noise which is sometimes shocking.

I've been through this and finally just said: "I'm not going to yell and ruin my vocal chords. If you don't want to wear your hearing aids, I guess we just won't be able to talk."

We do manage though if I look directly at the good ear. But I'm through compensating b/c someone doesn't want to wear hearing aids. Hopefully won't be like that if I ever need aids.

I'm starting a notebook of things not to do when I get older.

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