Experts worldwide agree that the key to healthy and happy relationships is good communication. An essential element of good communication is being able to listen. However, if you can’t hear, then you can’t listen.
A lot of people with hearing loss don’t even realize that there is a problem. Hearing loss can be gradual and happens over the course of many years. As a matter of fact, most times family members or friends are the first to alert someone of their hearing loss.
If you’ve managed to hear without the use of aids for a long time, your hearing health may not seem like a big deal. However, in addition to the obvious side effects, hearing loss can have a negative impact on professional and interpersonal relationships.
As you consider seeking treatment for your hearing loss it’s important to remember that hearing loss is not a solo journey. The people closest to you are affected by your struggles with hearing loss in ways you never imagined. If left untreated, hearing loss can lead to:
- Resentment
- Loneliness
- Decreased engagement
As untreated hearing loss progresses it can become harder and harder to communicate but if you employ the use of hearing aids aspects of your life will begin to shift one by one for the better.
Date nights can get better!
Dinner and a movie are classic date night activities. However, when you’re struggling with hearing loss suddenly date night becomes a lot more complicated.
In a recent study, it was shown that nearly half of the people over the age of 55 years acknowledged that their relationships had deteriorated as a result of untreated hearing loss.
Over time communication breakdowns start to build up and get worse, ultimately leading to embarrassment, stress, frustration, and strain.
Spontaneity goes by the wayside when special considerations and accommodations must be made. The quiet moments of intimacy, pillow talk, stolen kisses, and inside jokes start to fade. The mundane becomes strained when communication is strained. Hearing loss can even make it difficult to fight or even console a grieving partner.
When a partner with hearing loss begins to withdraw it can feel like losing a companion for the hearing partner. Your partner may begin to resent that you avoid social interactions like dinner parties and other social events.
Family and friend time can be more enjoyable
Some of the nuances of hearing loss can be difficult for people to grasp. Even for the most empathetic friends and family, it can be hard to truly grasp how much hearing loss pervades aspects of life. They don’t realize how exhausting listening can be. What might sound like moderate background noise can drown out sound for some with hearing impairment.
Some friends end up becoming stand-in interpreters which can be exhausting and lead to frustration. As hearing loss evolves, so do the ways people interact. Communication styles and patterns begin to shift and evolve. Over time those difficulties relating can lead to misunderstandings and resentments especially if hearing loss remains untreated.
Every shared joke, laugh, and instance of communication is an opportunity to build on the foundation of any and every relationship. By treating your hearing loss you open yourself up for growth and connection with friends and family.
Work can be more fulfilling
Untreated hearing loss can affect your capacity to earn a living. It can be catastrophic to miss key information in meetings because you couldn’t hear. It can appear as a careless mistake, making you look unreliable and unable to contribute your load of the work to be done.
You also miss the opportunity to build connections and develop a rapport with co-workers when it’s difficult to hear. Eventually, opportunities pass you by.
Treating hearing loss will help you will feel more confident and capable in any job position.
Hearing aids are an incredible tool for connecting with the world around you and being able to interact with people. It does take time and effort to grow accustomed to hearing with the use of aids, but the effort is worth it. Humans are innately social, therefore our brains thrive on social interactions of all kinds big and small.
Don’t miss a moment, call a hearing health professional today!