Hearing loss can feel like a very personal, isolating experience. However, it’s often the case that the loved ones of people with hearing loss are highly affected as well.
According to Catherine Palmer, Director of Audiology and Hearing Aids at the University of Pittsburgh, “Hearing loss is a family issue, not just an individual one… It’s long been understood that a person with hearing loss may start to withdraw from social situations, but there’s been less focus on the effects on their partners – the social isolation as well as the burden of being a loved one’s ‘ears.’”
In this post, we review the effects of hearing loss on your relationships and the benefits of seeking treatment.
Untreated Hearing Loss Affects Relationships
Any relationship expert will argue that communication is the key to healthy relationships. When you can’t hear well, communication is heavily impacted.
In fact, research shows that untreated hearing loss can result in frustration, stress and distance within relationships. Below are other ways relationships can be impacted:
- Poorer quality conversations. When you can’t hear well, you’re less likely to swap stories, share inside jokes and romanticize the past, like your first date at Glacier Ice Rink. This can impact intimacy within a relationship.
- Fewer shared activities. Hearing loss causes you to withdraw from activities you once enjoyed, from going out dancing to sitting at home watching TV with the ones you love.
- Growing resentment. If you can’t make your own appointments or converse with others without help, your partner may begin to inadvertently experience feelings of resentment for having to take on these burdens.
Benefits of Treatment
In most cases, hearing aids are the gold standard of treatment for hearing loss. Wearing hearing aids has been shown to improve relationships by:
- Improving enjoyment of conversations. Since you’re no longer straining to hear what is said, you can be more fully present in the conversations, making them more enjoyable for everyone.
- Reducing miscommunication. Hearing aids help amplify sounds to a level your ears can hear and your brain can more easily process, improving the ability to communicate effectively.
- Cultivating closeness. Better communication can help you become even closer with the people you love the most.
- Easing tension. Seeking treatment helps alleviate stress, frustration and tension for both you and your partner.
To learn more about the benefits of hearing aids or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, call Western Montana Hearing and Speech today.