When you imagine hearing aids, intimacy probably isn’t the first thing you think about. We get it. The advertising on these little devices is rather straightforward. Love, on the other hand, is something better suited for poetry, music, and art.
But you might want to begin viewing your hearing aid as an intimacy device due to the strong link between your hearing and your relationship. After all, when doctors, researchers, and hearing specialists discuss “social isolation caused by hearing loss,” they’re also pointing to isolation from your partner. That means it isn’t just talking with the cashier at the supermarket that becomes more challenging, it’s also maintaining your most significant and intimate relationships.
Hearing loss doesn’t inevitably mean you can’t enjoy beautiful relationships and deep emotional bonds. It’s just that doing so takes particular care and well-practiced adjustments. If you’ve been losing your hearing slowly and over time, you probably haven’t matured those extra skills, as a result, your relationships could suffer.
True intimacy, though, and enhanced personal relationships can come from something as simple as wearing a hearing aid. Here are just a few ways that hearing aids could have a positive impact on your love life.
Improved communication
It’s no secret that healthy relationships require good communication (although, it is often harder to practice than it is to preach). Everybody will feel more appreciated and valued with good communication permitting stronger emotional connections and reducing arguments.
But the challenge becomes even more pronounced with hearing loss which can severely hinder normal communication.
A hearing aid will help most quickly in the following ways:
- You’ll catch more of those softer, whispered moments. Let’s be honest, it isn’t pillow talk if you have to yell. You and your partner will enjoy those hushed quiet moments with hearing aids.
- You’ll have more energy for communication.When you have hearing loss, speaking and listening can consume a lot of energy, leaving you feeling exhausted. Conversations can once again be enjoyable and invigorating.
You won’t need to use your partner as a translator
If your partner has to repeat everything people are saying, it doesn’t make for a very romantic night. Likewise, you won’t have much fun if you’re unable to hear anything that’s happening all night. It’s easy to see how this arrangement could lead to resentment.
Your independence can be maintained by using hearing aids. You won’t rely on your partner to order for you at a restaurant or translate what everyone is saying at a dinner party. And going out solo to socialize will also be easier. 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
There are a lot of ways that hearing more might help make your partner’s life a bit easier. Maybe you jump up and help with dinner because your hearing aids permitted you to hear the cook timer ring. Or maybe you hear your partner stumble on the floor and ask if they’re alright. When you hear your partner grumbling under their breath, you have a chance to ask what’s bothering them.
These may sound small and perhaps even insignificant. But added up, these little gestures show your commitment and compassion. They show you care. And that’s what partners are should do! A hearing aid makes that much easier to achieve because you’ll recognize those sometimes discreet audio cues.
You won’t miss the power of a whisper
When you suffer from hearing loss, especially when you haven’t noticed your symptoms, it may be difficult to recognize that you’ve stopped hearing those breathy whispers shared during romantic occasions. And part of the fun of being romantic, let’s be truthful, is those subtle, hushed moments. A hearing aid will let you enjoy the power of a whisper again. Which means you’ll be capable of enjoying the intimacy of your partnership in a more profound way.
Helping Your Relationship
To be sure, a hearing aid won’t fix 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 elements of your love life more enjoyable and more enriching.
So when hearing loss gets in the way of your connections, your relationships can get dicey and it can be tricky finding a cause. Schedule an appointment with us, a hearing aid could return welcome intimacy to your love life.