Hearing Problem

I feared Pat was not hearing as well as she used to, and I thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her, I called the family doctor to discuss the problem.

The doctor told me there is a simple informal test I could perform to give the doctor a better idea about her hearing loss.

"Here's what you do," said the doctor. "Stand about 40 feet away from her and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response."

That evening, Pat was in the kitchen cooking dinner, and I was in the living room. I said to myself, "I'm about 40 feet away. Let's see what happens." So, in a normal tone I ask, "Honey, what's for dinner?"

She did not respond.

So I moved closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from Pat, and repeated, "Honey, what's for dinner?"

Still no response.

Next I moved into the dining room where I was about 20 feet from her and ask, "Honey. What's for dinner?"

Again … no response.

So, I walked up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for dinner?"

Again, there is no response.

So I walked right up behind her. "Honey, what's for dinner?"

Turning around she says, "Jerry, for the 5th time, it’s chicken.”