General Chat

Mum is the same. We were at the speech therapist (her voice has been 'gone' for 18 months) and was asked 'have you had any problems with your ears?' to which mum promptly replied ... 'no, I haven't had diarrhoea ... ' !!! Me and Speech Therapist cracked up, next thing Sp Th said was 'I'm going to refer you for a hearing test' pmsl ... we had been nagging her for AGES, so it was perfect lol. However, she still says she is NOT deaf in the slightest, that we all shout, that she can hear everything we say (even though we can have entire conversations about her that she completely misses) and she won't wear the hearing aid. Very very frustrating and I come away hoarse every time I see her! Maz. XX

Very often if your hearing dulls gradually you won't realise it and nor will others until you make a massive blunder. Very important to teach youngsters especially to talk clearly and not mutter, so that older family members don't struggle to understand. Hope I retain my hearing as long as poss. My late dad had to have a hearing aid altho he didn't wear it all the time, had to have the tv so loud and now I notice my two old ladies I look after, both over 80, are starting to turn the volume higher on their tv.

Hiya Anne, My dad is 74 and is going deaf like his dad, it isnt easy, is it? Sympathies hun, Caz xxxx

This thread reminds me of something that happened a few years ago - don't know whether it was a hearing problem or whether and 'embarrassment factor' was involved. I went into a rather crowded chemist & asked the young lad (mid teens - Saturday job) for some Feminax (for period pain). His face went blank for a few seconds - then with great animation he asked which variety. 'Pardon' I ask, a bit confused. He then pointed to the display in front of him - of Durex!!! lol Poor lad - I then had to totally embarrass him by explaining what Feminax were!! maggie

Sally- That made me laugh! My hearing's been a bit 'on the turn' for ages now. My 'kids' (in their 20's!) used to get irritated when they were younger, but nowadays we often fall about laughing about one of my 'mishearings' - they can be really weird, sometimes! Of course, it was different when it was my Mum struggling to hear, and I was an impatient youngster. I see it differently now - wish I could apologise, now I know what it's like. Teena- Has your g'dad contacted Age Concern, or somewhere like that? Or I think I remember that BT can be helpful - they may be able to provide a phone with a higher volume control or something similar. Bee.

That made me giggle Sally. Reminded me of when I was buying cheese strings for my boys packed lunches a few years ago. I couldn't find them and asked the manager who blushed and said he didn't sell them. It was only when all the staff were rolling around on the floor laughing and told him that I'd actually asked for cheese strings and not G-strings! I don't know who was the most embarrassed.... Anne

... I understand your meaning......lol.... same sort of thing in Oz, when OH's cousin said he needed a new pair of thongs........thongs over there are flip-flops.....I could just imagine him in a thong....lol....

Another one.... Went to the Doctors to get a mini pill after the birth of my son.....I was nearly 32... New Doctor.....quite dishy....asking all the usual questions, when I heard him say 'are you going on thirty'.....at which this silly mare replied 'Oh, how nice of you, as a matter of fact I'm nearly 32' I realised that something was wrong when he looked dumbstruck....he asked me what I thought he had said, and I told him - he said 'noooo.... I was telling you the name of the pill....Microgynon 30'.....was I red... Do you know, every time I saw him after that I was a gibbering idiot.....couldn't string two words together....it was just that I was so embarrassed and sure that I would make an error again....

My Daddy was profoundly deaf but we still managed to get cross wires now and again!! I'd give everything to have him irritate me again! Enjoy it as these are the memories you will rely on later! xx

Oh Sally how embarrassing was that? When my son was younger he did something similar, he said to a rather large lady, 'you've eaten too many Mars bars havent you?' Anne

Oh bless him.....my Dad lost an eardrum in the War and had loss of hearing....I wear a hearing aid.....so we had many conversations at cross purposes..... I know when I have misheard.....when the person I answer looks at me with a blank stare....then I know I have picked up the conversation wrong.... Story... Mum and Dad, my Sis and BiL and niece who was 5 went to Disneyworld......in a McDonalds and Lisa was saying something to her Mum....my Sis was trying to shut her up....but my Dad would keep on.....wanted to know what was being said, my Sis said she would tell him later, he would not have it and got quite sniffy and said 'OK, then if you don't want to include me in your conversations'....whereupon my niece piped up in a loud voice and pointing to a lady at the next table......'is that lady fat because she has just eaten two burgers'.......they wished the floor had opened.....

Ann, I love my dad totally and will do anything for him, which he knows. He takes everything in the good humour it is intended. Anne

Dozza, i have 2 hearing aids without them i'm deaf as a coot lol sometimes OH will be talking with the daughter and he'll say well i think we'd better go now and i'll say come on john we'd better go now he will look at the daughter and s.i.l. and say i give up lol Hazelx

Can I say, we will all be old one day, some of us sooner than others. I am hard of hearing and have a digital hearing aid. I use it for meetings, theatre, lectures etc. And if we are going out for a meal or something with friends. I don't always use it when it is just family, I also have tinnitus and the hearing aid does not always help. if you have perfect hearing, be very thankful and hope it always stays that way. it is frustrating when people don't hear what you say, it is though most upsetting when people make fun of you because you mishear what they have said, and it is isolating, even when you have a hearing aid because, if you are in a group you don't always pick up what everyone is saying, it can make you feel very introverted. So please be tolerant. Ann Glos

Cath's in which room. Jeff? Anne

My 90 year old Mother-in-Law waited over 3 years to get her digital hearing aid, and finally had it fitted just before last Christmas. She spent Christmas staying with us and most of the time the hearing aid was turned off or not worn at all because she couldn't stand the noise! She hardly ever wears it as her arthritic fingers won't let her put it on correctly, and she has to rely on us or her other son to fit it for her. I think it is so sad. She waited all that time and now her hands won't let her wear it. The trouble is, even when she is wearing it we still shout at her. It's been the norm for so long! I remember my Great Grandma had an ear trumpet (maybe made from an animal's horn?) and I vividly remember bellowing into it when I was about 3 after she told me to speak up! Sue xx

One of the funniest things my dad did a few years ago was when he went to the garage for petrol on his own. He filled the car up, paid his money, then sat in the back of the car and waited. It was only when a queue started to form behind him that he realised what he had done! It still makes me giggle when I think about it... Anne

Anne, you'd better go to the bathroom then Jeff PMSL

I SAID !!!!!!!!! IT'S JUST GONE HALF PAST THREE!!!!!!!!

What, Sorry, Pardon me, What, Eh, Can you type a little louder please, Im deaf in one ear myself :):) LOL Colin :):):)