Hard-of-Hearing Consequences

Dear Blabby and Crabby:

My husband is very hard of hearing but refuses to consider hearing aids. Sometimes his lack of hearing is funny, while other times it’s downright embarrassing. I’ve asked him repeatedly to have his hearing checked, but he is so vain that he won’t listen to our children or me. What can I do to get him to the audiologist? Signed: Married to Hard-of-Hearing Harry

Blabby: Well, Mrs. Harry is experiencing a very common problem. Men lose their hearing more frequently than women do but don’t like to admit that they need to do something about it.

Crabby: Vanity sometimes causes more pain than a physical illness. We need to help her find immediate help for Harry, or they both will regret it.

Blabby: This doesn’t sound like you, Crabby. Why the sense of urgency?

Crabby: My sister-in-law Susan went through the same problem with my brother Norman. He couldn’t hear well either and refused to do anything about it. He and Susan have a service station and convenience store, so dealing with the public for Norman became difficult. It was also sometimes embarrassing for Susan.

Blabby: What do you mean?

Crabby: One day a rather well-endowed young lady came in and asked if she could get a quick lube job. Unfortunately for Norman, he thought she said “boob” job.

Blabby: Oh my, that would be a problem.

Crabby: It sure was. Norman said to the woman that if his wife had half the rack she had, he wouldn’t spend the money, but he did know of a cosmetic surgeon in town if she really wanted a name.

Blabby: What happened then?

Crabby: The woman slapped Norman on the right side of his face about the same time the adding machine Susan threw hit him on the left side of his head.

Blabby: Ouch! I’ll bet that didn’t help his hearing.

Crabby: Well, it really did. The next day he went to buy hearing aids.

Blabby: So now his hearing problem is resolved?

Crabby: Pretty much, except the slap and the adding machine together caused Norman to develop ringing in the ears.

Blabby: I can understand the need for urgency. Let’s give Mrs. Harry a call right now.

By Don Griffin
Blabby and Crabby Blog