Intimacy isn’t normally the first thing that one thinks of when you think about hearing aids. We get it. 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 linked to the point where you might want to start viewing your hearing aid as an intimacy device. After all, when doctors, researchers, and hearing specialists discuss “social separation caused by hearing loss,” they’re also pointing to isolation from your partner. That means maintaining intimate relationships will be just as challenging as trying to talk with the clerk at the store.
That doesn’t mean someone suffering from hearing loss isn’t able to form deep bonds or of experiencing beautiful, lasting 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 probably haven’t developed those additional skills, as a result, your relationships could suffer.
True intimacy, though, and enhanced personal relationships can come from something as simple as using 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 well known that good communication skills are at the root of a healthy relationship. Taking the time to communicate can help eliminate arguments, increase emotional connections, and make everyone feel more valued and appreciated.
But the challenge becomes even more evident with hearing loss which can seriously hinder normal communication.
A hearing aid will help most rapidly in the following ways:
- You’ll catch more of those quieter, whispered moments. To put it directly, there’s no shouting in pillow talk. A hearing aid will let you enjoy more of those quiet, hushed moments between you and your partner.
- You’ll have more energy for communication.Hearing loss can leave you depleted from straining to communicate. Conversations can once again be fun and invigorating.
You won’t need to use your partner as a translator
Going out with a group of friends won’t be all that much fun when your partner spends most of their time repeating everyone for your benefit. Similarly, you won’t have much fun if you can’t hear anything that’s happening all night. It’s easy to see how this arrangement could breed resentment.
Your independence can be preserved by using hearing aids. You won’t depend 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 home 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 a whole lot easier in so many ways if you’re able to hear clearly. Perhaps, thanks to your hearing aids, you notice the timer go off and jump in to help with dinner. Or maybe you hear your partner stumble on the floor and ask if they’re alright. When you hear your partner complaining under their breath, you have a chance to ask what’s the matter.
All of this might not sound like much of a big deal. But these little gestures, taken together, will show your partner that you’re compassionate and committed. They demonstrate your level of care. And that will make you a good partner. You will have a substantially easier time achieving this with hearing aids which will help you detect more discreet audio cues.
You won’t miss the power of a whisper
You may have a hard 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 notice. And let’s be honest, those hushed sounds are part of the fun of intimacy. 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
To be sure, a hearing aid won’t solve every problem in your relationship. Nor is it impossible to have romance with hearing loss. Hearing aids will make certain elements of your love life more enjoyable and enriching and that’s the main point here.
So when hearing loss blocks your connections, your relationships can get dicey and it can be difficult to find a cause. A hearing aid can return needed intimacy to your relationship so make an appointment as soon as possible.
