When you imagine hearing aids, intimacy probably isn’t the first thing you think about. We understand. The advertising on these little devices is relatively straightforward. Love, conversely, is something better suited for music, poetry, and art.
And yet, the two are closely connected to the point where you might want to begin thinking of your hearing aid as an intimacy device. After all, when doctors, researchers, and hearing specialists talk about “social isolation caused by hearing loss,” they’re also referencing isolation from your partner. That means preserving intimate relationships will be just as challenging as attempting to talk with the clerk at the store.
That’s not to say somebody suffering from hearing loss isn’t capable of forming deep bonds or of experiencing beautiful, enduring relationships. But it will be necessary to put in place some practiced adjustments and take some special care. You most likely haven’t matured those skills if your hearing loss has progressed gradually and that could mean your relationships may suffer.
By the same token, something as obvious as a hearing aid can quickly and easily enhance these important relationships and make true intimacy easier. Hearing aids can have a positive influence on your love life in the following ways.
Improved communication
It’s no secret that healthy relationships need good communication (though, it is sometimes harder to practice than it is to preach). Taking the time to communicate can help prevent arguments, improve emotional connections, and make everyone feel more valued and appreciated.
But hearing loss can compound regular communication roadblocks in the process making a difficult task much harder.
A hearing aid will help most rapidly in the following ways:
- The quieter, whispered moments won’t get lost. Let’s be honest, it’s not pillow talk if you have to shout. A hearing aid will let you enjoy more of those quiet, hushed moments between you and your partner.
- You’ll have more vitality for communication.Hearing loss can leave you exhausted from straining to communicate. With a hearing aid, chatting can be fun and energizing once again.
Your partner won’t have to be your translator
Going out with friends won’t be all that enjoyable when your partner spends most of their time repeating everyone for your benefit. But if you can’t hear what’s going on all night, that won’t be very fun either. It’s easy to understand how this arrangement could cause resentment.
Your independence can be preserved by using hearing aids. You won’t depend on your partner to order food for you at a restaurant or repeat what everyone is saying at a dinner party. In addition, it will be easier to continue socializing on your own! This means you’ll have adventures and stories that you can bring back to your partner, enriching your relationship in the process.
You’ll be more receptive to your partner’s needs
Your partner’s life will be so much easier in so many ways if you can hear more. Perhaps, thanks to your hearing aids, you hear the timer go off and come in to help with dinner. Or maybe you ask your partner if they’re ok 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 might not sound like much of a big deal. But these little gestures, taken together, will show your partner that you are compassionate and committed. They demonstrate your level of care. And that’s what partners are should do! A hearing aid makes that much easier to achieve because you’ll recognize 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 noticed your symptoms, it may be tough to recognize that you’ve stopped hearing those breathy whispers shared during romantic occasions. And part of the fun of being intimate, let’s be honest, is those discreet, hushed occasions. A hearing aid will let you experience the power of a whisper again. Which means you’ll be capable of enjoying the intimacy of your partnership in a more powerful way.
Helping Your Relationship
Every problem in your relationship won’t be remedied using a hearing aid, obviously. Nor is it impossible to experience romance with hearing loss. The point here is that a hearing aid will make specific elements of your love life more pleasurable and more enriching.
So when hearing loss blocks your connections, your relationships can become dicey and it can be difficult to find a cause. A hearing aid can return needed romance to your relationship so schedule an appointment as soon as possible.