When you think about hearing aids, intimacy probably isn’t the first thing you think about. We understand. The advertising on these little devices is rather straightforward. Less defined expressions like poetry, music, and art are more suited to the subject of love.
And yet, the two are inextricably linked 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 trying to talk with the clerk at the supermarket.
That doesn’t mean somebody with hearing loss isn’t capable of forming deep bonds or of experiencing wonderful, enduring relationships. It’s just that doing so takes specialized care and well-practiced adaptations. You probably haven’t matured those skills if your hearing loss has advanced slowly and that could mean your relationships might suffer.
By the same token, something as basic as a hearing aid can quickly and easily enhance these priceless relationships and make true intimacy more possible. Here are just a few ways that hearing aids might have a positive impact on your love life.
Improved communication
It’s no secret that healthy relationships call for good communication (although, it is often harder to practice than it is to preach). Everybody will feel more appreciated and valued with strong communication permitting stronger emotional connections and minimizing arguments.
But the challenge becomes even more evident with hearing loss which can significantly hinder normal communication.
A hearing aid will help most rapidly in the following ways:
- You’ll have more energy for communication.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. To put it directly, there’s no yelling in pillow talk. You and your partner will enjoy those hushed quiet experiences with hearing aids.
Your partner won’t have to be your translator
Going out with a group of friends won’t be all that enjoyable when your partner spends most of their time repeating everyone for your benefit. 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 cause resentment.
Your independence can be protected by using hearing aids. You won’t depend on your partner to order for you at a restaurant or repeat what everyone is saying at a dinner party. In addition, it will be easier to continue going out and 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 daily life will be a whole lot easier in so many ways if you can hear clearly. Maybe, 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 need help when you hear them stumble on the floor. When you hear your partner grumbling under their breath, you have a chance to ask what’s the matter.
These may sound small and perhaps even insignificant. But added together, these little gestures show your commitment and compassion. They show you care. And that’s what partners are supposed to do! A hearing aid makes that much easier to accomplish because you’ll pick up on those sometimes subtle audio cues.
You won’t miss the power of a whisper
You might have a difficult time hearing those breathy whispers shared during romantic moments when you have hearing loss, especially if it has developed so gradually you didn’t even detect it. And let’s be truthful, those hushed sounds are part of the fun of romance. You will once again be able to experience the power of a whisper. This means that your experience of partnership will be that much more powerful.
Helping Your Relationship
Every problem in your relationship won’t be remedied with a hearing aid, clearly. And if you do suffer from hearing loss, you can still have romance. Hearing aids will make specific aspects of your love life more enjoyable and enriching and that’s the main point here.
So if your relationship is a little… dicey… and you’re trying to find a cause, it may be that your hearing loss is inhibiting your connections. A hearing aid can return needed intimacy to your relationship so make an appointment as soon as possible.