This Valentine’s Day, we want to draw attention to the effects of hearing loss on our romantic relationships. The foundation of any healthy relationship is clear and open communication, but this becomes more challenging if untreated hearing loss is in the equation. Frequent misunderstandings due to progressive hearing loss can start causing friction even in the most stable relationships, and this discord can push two people apart.
About 48 million Americans suffer from some form of hearing loss, but only about 16 percent of them seek treatment. On average, it takes a person seven years to experience hearing loss to seek help. During this time, difficulties with speech recognition can impact one’s most important relationships, especially with one’s partners or spouses. And, for those who are single and looking for love, challenges with communication can make first dates or phone calls a little more awkward than they naturally are to begin with!
However, there is good news: seeking treatment for hearing loss can benefit many different areas of your life. With better access to speech sounds, challenges with communication can be alleviated, ensuring that your relationships remain strong.
Challenges to Relationships Posted by Untreated Hearing Loss
Numerous studies have reported that those who do not treat their hearing loss with hearing aids are more vulnerable to paranoia, isolation, depression, memory issues, and decreased physical activity. At the heart of this is the simple fact that social contact is made more difficult by hearing loss, and as it progresses untreated, people can become isolated.
This can have disastrous effects on a marriage or other romantic relationship. With the better-hearing person needing to take up the slack for the partner with hearing loss, spousal relationships tend to struggle the most. Although hearing loss is undoubtedly frustrating for the individual suffering from it, it can be equally frustrating for those closest to one’s spouse or partner.
A conversation becomes a challenge requiring several repetitions and rephrasing, far from merely flowing as it once did. The individual in the relationship with someone with hearing loss might start stripping down conversation to the bare essentials. The sense of closeness that naturally emerges during free and simple discourse begins to ebb away.
How Addressing Hearing Loss Can Help
If you think you may have hearing loss, it is important to communicate your experiences with your significant other. Having an honest conversation about your challenges and obstacles is a crucial step in the right direction. An essential part of this chat is to admit your hearing loss and the times and spaces you particularly struggle with it, and to acknowledge that it affects your ability to communicate with others.