When you imagine hearing aids, intimacy probably isn’t the first thing you think about. We understand. These little devices are usually presented in rather concrete terms. 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 begin thinking of your hearing aid as an intimacy device. After all, when doctors, researchers, and hearing specialists discuss “social separation due to hearing loss,” they’re also referencing isolation from your partner. Which means it isn’t just chatting with the cashier at the supermarket that becomes more challenging, it’s also maintaining your most important and intimate relationships.
Hearing loss doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t enjoy wonderful relationships and deep emotional connections. But it will be necessary to put in place some practiced adjustments and take some special care. If you’ve been losing your hearing slowly and over time, you most likely haven’t developed those additional skills, subsequently, your relationships could suffer.
True intimacy, though, and improved 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 affect on your love life.
Improved communication
Obviously, healthy relationships require good communication (although, it is sometimes harder to practice than it is to preach). Taking the time to communicate can help eliminate arguments, enhance emotional connections, and make everybody feel more respected and appreciated.
But the difficulty becomes even more pronounced with hearing loss which can seriously interfere with normal communication.
A hearing aid will help most rapidly in the following ways:
- The softer, whispered moments won’t get lost. Let’s be truthful, it isn’t pillow talk if you have to yell. A hearing aid will foster more of those quiet, hushed experiences between you and your partner.
- You’ll have more energy for communication.Hearing loss can leave you exhausted from struggling to communicate. Conversations can once again be enjoyable and stimulating.
You won’t need to use your partner as a translator
If your partner has to repeat everything being said, it doesn’t make for a really romantic night. Similarly, you won’t have much fun if you can’t hear anything that’s happening all night. It’s not hard to imagine the kind of resentment this might cause.
Your independence can be maintained by wearing hearing aids. Your partner won’t need to order your food at a restaurant or be your translator when you’re at a dinner party. And going out alone to socialize will also be easier. You will be able to enrich your relationship by bringing back 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 clearly. Maybe you jump up and help with dinner because your hearing aids let you 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 demonstrate your level of care. And that will make you a good partner. A hearing aid makes that much easier to accomplish because you’ll recognize those sometimes discreet audio cues.
You won’t miss the power of a whisper
When you are dealing with hearing loss, particularly when you haven’t noticed your symptoms, it may be hard to recognize that you’ve stopped hearing those breathy whispers shared during intimate occasions. And part of the fun of being romantic, let’s be honest, is those subtle, quiet moments. You will once again be able to enjoy the power of a whisper. Which means you’ll be capable of enjoying the closeness of your partnership in a more profound way.
Helping Your Relationship
To be certain, a hearing aid won’t mend every problem with your relationship. And if you do suffer from hearing loss, you can still have intimacy. Hearing aids will make certain 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 getting in the way of your connections. Make an appointment with us, a hearing aid could bring back welcome intimacy to your love life.