When you think about hearing aids, intimacy probably isn’t the first thing you consider. We understand. The advertising on these little devices is relatively straightforward. Less defined expressions such as poetry, music, and art are more suited to the topic of love.
And yet, the two are inextricably connected to the point where you might want to start thinking of your hearing aid as an intimacy device. After all, when doctors, researchers, and hearing specialists talk about “social isolation due to hearing loss,” they’re also referencing isolation from your partner. That means preserving intimate relationships will be just as challenging as attempting to communicate with the clerk at the grocery store.
That doesn’t mean someone suffering from hearing loss isn’t capable of forming deep bonds or of experiencing beautiful, enduring relationships. It’s just that doing so takes specialized care and well-practiced adjustments. You probably haven’t developed those skills if your hearing loss has advanced slowly and that could mean your relationships might suffer.
True intimacy, though, and improved personal relationships can come from something as basic as wearing a hearing aid. Hearing aids can have a positive influence on your love life in the following ways.
Improved communication
Obviously, healthy relationships need good communication (though, it is often harder to practice than it is to preach). Everyone will feel more appreciated and valued with good communication allowing stronger emotional connections and decreasing arguments.
But the challenge becomes even more pronounced with hearing loss which can severely impede normal communication.
A hearing aid will help most quickly in the following ways:
- Your boosted energy levels will make it easier to communicate.Hearing loss can leave you depleted from straining to communicate. With a hearing aid, chatting can be fun and energizing again.
- You’ll catch more of those softer, whispered moments. Let’s be truthful, it isn’t pillow talk if you have to shout. A hearing aid will foster more of those quiet, hushed experiences between you and your partner.
Your partner won’t have to be your translator
Going out with a group of friends won’t be all that much fun when your partner spends most of their time repeating everyone for your benefit. Similarly, you won’t have a very good time if you can’t hear anything that’s going on all night. It’s not difficult to imagine the kind of resentment this might cause.
A hearing aid can help protect your independence. Your partner won’t have to order your food at a restaurant or be your translator when you’re at a dinner party. And going out alone to socialize will also be easier. You will be able to enrich your relationship by bringing back stories and adventures to share.
You’ll be more receptive to your partner’s needs
There are a lot of ways that hearing more could help make your partner’s life a bit easier. Perhaps, thanks to your hearing aids, you hear the timer go off and jump in to help with dinner. Or maybe you ask your partner if they need help when you hear them stumble on the floor. You will have the opportunity to ask your partner what’s wrong if you hear them grumble under their breath.
All of this may not sound like much of a big deal. But added together, these little gestures demonstrate your commitment and compassion. They demonstrate your level of care. And that’s what partners are supposed to do! A hearing aid makes that a lot easier to accomplish because you’ll pick up on those sometimes subtle audio cues.
You won’t miss the power of a whisper
When you suffer from hearing loss, particularly when you haven’t detected your symptoms, it may be difficult to recognize that you’ve stopped hearing those breathy whispers shared during romantic occasions. And let’s be honest, those hushed sounds are part of the fun of romance. A hearing aid will allow you to enjoy the power of a whisper again. Which means you’ll be capable of enjoying the closeness of your partnership in a more powerful way.
Helping Your Relationship
To be sure, a hearing aid isn’t going to solve every issue in your relationship. Nor is it impossible to experience romance with hearing loss. The point here is that a hearing aid will make specific facets of your love life more enjoyable and more enriching.
So if your relationship is a little… dicey… and you’re struggling to find a cause, it might be that your hearing loss is getting in the way of your connections. Make an appointment with us, a hearing aid could return welcome intimacy to your love life.