THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2018 FEATURES TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE Hearing loss revisited Dear Readers: Recently, I essentially saying, “It’s not my printed a letter from “Sad and problem. It’s your problem.” That Frustrated Beyond Words,” who approach is simply ludicrous. was at her wits’ end with her My mother, who lived with husband, who has hearing loss my dad’s worsening hearing for at but refuses to get help. I told her least 10 years before he died, used that she’s right that her husband to plead with Dad to get a hearing should get his hearing test. He refused to do so. DEAR checked but added that This woman is forced to live with someone who until he’s open to seeing ANNIE stubbornly refuses to take a doctor, she should focus steps to be a good com- on her own mental health. panion. Isn’t that a basic I heard from many readers responsibility and pact who have experience with between couples? Aren’t hearing loss. I thought we supposed to demon- many of these responses strate our love and respect contain valuable points, Lane for the other person with and I’d like to share some Annie Creators Syndicate Inc. pleasant, helpful, consid- of their wisdom. erate behavior? Aren’t we Dear Annie: Your reply to “Sad and Frustrated supposed to take steps to correct Beyond Words” is not helpful. bad behaviors and habits that hurt I am a 65-year-old woman with our partners? Would you have the hearing loss that began about same opinion if this woman wrote seven years ago. Once I realized I to you that her husband refuses to had some hearing loss, I ran (I did bathe? Not addressing one’s hear- not walk) to my ENT specialist ing loss is, in my view, a form of and audiologist to seek help and passive abuse, and it demonstrates hearing aids. Here’s why. Hear- the person’s unwillingness to be a ing loss does not just affect the good partner. person suffering from it. Hearing The reader’s husband is loss affects everyone with whom unquestionably wrong in his that person comes in contact. Your refusal to acknowledge his hear- reader’s husband, who refuses to ing loss, and he may very likely acknowledge his hearing loss, is lose his spouse as a consequence. 5A By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. No amount of “meditation” will improve your reader’s life unless her husband takes steps to do something about his hearing. — Hearing Is Everyone’s Problem Dear Hearing Is Everyone’s Problem: You’ve made me real- ize that perhaps my response to “Sad and Frustrated Beyond Words” was somewhat flip. Read on for yet another reason peo- ple with hearing loss should seek medical help. Dear Annie: “Sad and Frus- trated Beyond Words” might want to tell her husband that it could possibly cause cognitive decline if he can’t hear her or anyone else. I believe that years of not hearing anyone is part of the reason my mother developed Alzheimer’s disease. If you can’t have a con- versation, then your brain isn’t getting any stimulation and will eventually shut down. — Been There Dear Been There: You’re absolutely right. According to hearing experts from Johns Hop- kins, “older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop problems thinking and remem- bering than older adults whose hearing is normal.” Thanks for writing. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Situations are not stressful in their own right. It is our assessment and interpretation that drives the stress levels we experience. Thought of the day: There is always another interpretation. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The bigger picture will not be served if you change the rules for every individual request. Stick to the rules and the structures today. If you make an exception for one person, then you’ll have to make it for all people. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Sacrifice is always the necessary trade for things of value — no sacrifice, no value. Instant gratification isn’t free. It will be paid for eventually. Oddly enough, those who get used to sacrifice begin to actually enjoy it. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Human beings behave irrationally. This is the rule, not the exception. A lot of time and energy get wasted complaining about irrational things other hu- mans do. Conserve your energy by expecting surprising problems. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll come up with a plan. They won’t all like it. Some, in fact, would rally against it if they knew what it was. So, it’s a good thing they don’t. Keep it like that for a while. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you set out on the journey ill-prepared and unsure, you’ll be beginning the way most beginners do. This is the magic (and fun!) of being a beginner — inadequate means and imperfect odds of success. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). When you find yourself arguing with the basic tenants of society — the way people dress, talk or drive — it’s a sign that you’re due for some “me time,” FRANK AND ERNEST BLONDIE THATABABY SALLY FORTH PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN B.C. LOLA DILBERT SIX CHIX BIZARRO MUTTS NON SEQUITUR BABY BLUES WIZARD OF ID ZITS ROSE IS ROSE resting, breathing and stretching in more than just physical ways. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There are those who know exactly what they want, and they are very likely to get it. Though what happens after that may be that they want something else. After all, states of satisfaction can only last so long. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ll hear from an old friend. You might be surprised by different people’s trajectories, and they might be surprised about yours. Surprise can be life affirming. There is always more to know. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). “Would you?” is a very different question from “will you?” And while you’ll gather some interesting information from the “would you?” question, all that matters in the end is the “will you?” question. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). One behavior will not suit all outcomes. For instance, what you do to create trust is different from what you do to elicit desire. Decide on what you want to accomplish and work backward. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). When people are doing a certain thing to fit in with the environ- ment and you don’t feel compelled to do the same thing, consider the very fun, adventurous possibility that you might be better suited to a different environment. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (April 6). The solar return has so many gifts for you — a new way of thinking, a better place to work and a chance to make a difference in the world. Family bands together for a common cause. Your investment in another person will prove to be the best way to learn and grow. Your curiosity will lead to a beautiful alliance. Gemini and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 40, 22, 11 and 9.