Intimacy isn’t normally the first thing that comes to mind when you think about hearing aids. We get it. The advertising on these little devices is rather straightforward. Less defined expressions like poetry, music, and art are more suited to the topic of love.
And yet, the two are inextricably linked to the point where you might want to begin viewing your hearing aid as an intimacy device. After all, when doctors, researchers, and hearing specialists discuss “social isolation due to hearing loss,” they’re also pointing to isolation from your partner. That means maintaining intimate relationships will be just as difficult as attempting to communicate with the clerk at the grocery store.
That doesn’t mean someone suffering from hearing loss isn’t able to form 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 slowly and over time, you most likely haven’t developed those extra skills, subsequently, 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 affect 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, increase emotional connections, and make everyone feel more valued and appreciated.
But hearing loss can compound regular communication hurdles in the process making a challenging task much harder.
A hearing aid will help most rapidly in the following ways:
- You’ll have more energy for communication.When you experience hearing loss, talking and listening can consume a lot of energy, leaving you feeling depleted. With a hearing aid, conversing can be fun and energizing once more.
- The quieter, whispered moments won’t get lost. 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. But if you can’t hear what’s going on all night, that won’t be very enjoyable either. It’s easy to understand how this arrangement could breed resentment.
Your independence can be protected by using hearing aids. Your partner won’t need to order your food at a restaurant or be your translator when you’re having dinner with friends. In addition, it will be easier to continue socializing on your own! 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 life will be so much easier in so many ways if you’re able to hear more. Perhaps you jump in and help with dinner because your hearing aids permitted you to hear the cook timer ring. Or maybe you hear your partner stumble on the floor and ask if they’re alright. You will have the opportunity to ask your partner what’s wrong if you hear them grumble under their breath.
These might sound small and perhaps even unimportant. But added up, these little gestures demonstrate your commitment and compassion. They demonstrate your level of care. And that will make you a quality partner. A hearing aid makes that a lot easier to achieve because you’ll recognize those sometimes discreet audio cues.
You won’t miss the power of a whisper
You may have a hard time hearing those breathy whispers shared during intimate moments when you have hearing loss, especially if it has progressed so gradually you didn’t even detect it. And let’s be honest, those hushed sounds are part of the fun of intimacy. A hearing aid will let you enjoy the power of a whisper again. Which means you’ll be capable of enjoying the intimacy of your partnership in a more powerful way.
Helping Your Relationship
To be sure, a hearing aid isn’t going to fix every issue with your relationship. And if you do have hearing loss, you can still have intimacy. The point here is that a hearing aid will make certain facets of your love life more enjoyable and more enriching.
So if your relationship is a little… dicey… and you’re struggling to find a cause, it may be that your hearing loss is getting in the way of your connections. A hearing aid can return needed intimacy to your relationship so make an appointment as soon as possible.