When you think about hearing aids, intimacy probably isn’t the first thing you think about. We understand. These little devices are usually presented in rather concrete terms. Less defined expressions such as 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 start viewing your hearing aid as an intimacy device. After all, the social isolation that comes from untreated hearing loss can also mean isolation from your partner. That means preserving intimate relationships will be just as challenging as trying to talk with the clerk at the store.
That’s not to say someone suffering from hearing loss isn’t capable of forming deep bonds or of experiencing wonderful, lasting relationships. But it will be necessary to put in place some practiced adjustments and take some special care. You probably haven’t matured those skills if your hearing loss has advanced slowly and that could mean your relationships may suffer.
True intimacy, though, and enhanced personal relationships can come from something as basic as using 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 no secret that healthy relationships call for good communication (though, it is sometimes harder to practice than it is to preach). Everybody will feel more appreciated and valued with strong communication permitting stronger emotional connections and reducing arguments.
But the challenge becomes even more evident with hearing loss which can severely interfere with normal communication.
A hearing aid will help most quickly in the following ways:
- You’ll catch more of those quieter, whispered moments. To put it directly, there’s no shouting in pillow talk. You and your partner will enjoy those hushed quiet moments with hearing aids.
- Your boosted energy levels will make it simpler to communicate.Hearing loss can leave you exhausted from struggling to communicate. With a hearing aid, chatting can be fun and energizing again.
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. Similarly, you won’t have a very good time if you can’t hear anything that’s going on all night. It’s easy to see how this arrangement could lead to resentment.
Your independence can be protected by wearing 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. In addition, it will be easier to continue socializing on your own! You will be able to enrich your relationship by bringing home stories and adventures to share.
Your partner’s needs will be more accessible to you
There are a thousand ways that hearing more could help make your partner’s life a bit easier. Maybe, thanks to your hearing aids, you notice the timer go off and come in to help with dinner. Or maybe you ask your partner if they’re ok 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 the matter.
All of this may 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. You will have a substantially easier time accomplishing this with hearing aids which will help you pick up on more subtle audio cues.
You won’t miss the power of a whisper
You may have a tough time hearing those breathy whispers shared during intimate moments when you have hearing loss, especially if it has developed so slowly 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 allow you to enjoy the power of a whisper again. 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 fix every problem in your relationship. Nor is it impossible to have intimacy with hearing loss. 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 scrambling to find a cause, it might be that your hearing loss is getting in the way of your connections. Schedule an appointment with us, a hearing aid could return welcome intimacy to your love life.