When you imagine hearing aids, intimacy most likely isn’t the first thing you think about. We understand. These tiny devices are normally advertised in very concrete terms. Love, on the other hand, is something better suited for music, poetry, and art.
But you might want to begin looking at 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 separation due to hearing loss,” they’re also pointing to isolation from your partner. That means maintaining intimate relationships will be just as difficult as trying to talk with the clerk at the supermarket.
That’s not to say somebody suffering from hearing loss isn’t capable of forming deep bonds or of experiencing wonderful, enduring relationships. But it will be necessary to put in place some practiced adaptations and take some special care. If you’ve been losing your hearing gradually and over time, you likely 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 basic as wearing a hearing aid. Here are just a few ways that hearing aids might have a positive impact on your love life.
Improved communication
It’s well known that good communication skills are at the root of a healthy relationship. Taking the time to communicate can help prevent arguments, enhance emotional connections, and make everyone feel more respected and appreciated.
But the challenge becomes even more evident with hearing loss which can severely impede normal communication.
Here’s how a hearing aid will be most useful:
- Your boosted stamina will make it simpler to communicate.When you experience hearing loss, talking and listening can take a lot of energy, leaving you feeling drained. With a hearing aid, conversing can be fun and energizing once again.
- You’ll catch more of those softer, whispered moments. Let’s be honest, it’s not pillow talk if you have to yell. You and your partner will enjoy those hushed quiet moments with hearing aids.
Your partner won’t have to be your translator
If your partner has to repeat everything people are saying, it doesn’t make for a really romantic evening. Likewise, you won’t have a very good time if you can’t hear anything that’s happening all night. It’s not difficult to imagine the type of resentment this could cause.
A hearing aid can help maintain your independence. Your partner won’t need to order your food at a restaurant or be your translator when you’re at a dinner party. Additionally, it will be easier to continue going out and socializing on your own! You will be able to enrich your relationship by bringing home stories and adventures to share.
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 more. Perhaps you jump in and help with dinner because your hearing aids allow you to hear the cook timer sound. Or maybe you ask your partner if they need help when you hear them stumble on the floor. When you hear your partner complaining under their breath, you have an opportunity to ask what’s bothering them.
All of this might not sound like much of a big deal. But these little gestures, taken together, will demonstrate to your partner that you’re compassionate and committed. They show you care. And that will make you a quality partner. 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 might be tough to recognize that you’ve stopped hearing those breathy whispers shared during intimate occasions. And part of the pleasure of being intimate, let’s be truthful, is those subtle, hushed moments. You will once more be able to experience the power of a whisper. This means that your experience of partnership will be that much more profound.
Helping Your Relationship
Every problem in your relationship won’t be remedied using a hearing aid, obviously. And if you do have hearing loss, you can still have intimacy. Hearing aids will make specific elements of your love life more pleasurable and enriching and that’s the main point here.
So if your relationship is a little… dicey… and you’re scrambling to find a cause, it might be that your hearing loss is inhibiting your connections. Schedule an appointment with us, a hearing aid could bring back welcome intimacy to your love life.