Intimacy isn’t normally the first thing that one thinks of when you think about hearing aids. We understand. The advertising on these little devices is rather straightforward. Love, conversely, is something better suited for poetry, music, and art.
And yet, the two are closely linked to the point where you may want to begin viewing your hearing aid as an intimacy device. After all, when doctors, researchers, and hearing specialists talk about “social separation caused by hearing loss,” they’re also pointing to isolation from your partner. That means it’s not just talking with the cashier at the supermarket that becomes more difficult, it’s also maintaining your most significant and intimate relationships.
That doesn’t mean someone suffering from hearing loss isn’t capable of forming deep bonds or of experiencing wonderful, enduring relationships. But it will be necessary to put in place some practiced adjustments and take some special care. You most likely haven’t developed those skills if your hearing loss has progressed slowly and that could mean your relationships might suffer.
True intimacy, though, and improved personal relationships can come from something as basic as wearing a hearing aid. Here are some ways that hearing aids could have a positive influence on your love life.
Improved communication
Obviously, healthy relationships require strong communication (although, it is often harder to practice than it is to preach). Everyone will feel more appreciated and valued with strong communication allowing stronger emotional connections and reducing arguments.
But the difficulty becomes even more evident with hearing loss which can seriously impede normal communication.
Here’s how a hearing aid will be most beneficial:
- The quieter, whispered moments won’t get lost. To put it directly, there’s no yelling in pillow talk. A hearing aid will foster more of those quiet, hushed moments between you and your partner.
- You’ll have more vitality for communication.Hearing loss can leave you exhausted from struggling to communicate. Conversations can once again be enjoyable and invigorating.
Your partner won’t have to be your translator
If your partner needs to repeat everything being said, it doesn’t make for a very romantic night. But if you are unable to hear what’s happening all night, that won’t be very enjoyable either. It’s easy to see how this arrangement could cause resentment.
A hearing aid can help maintain your independence. You won’t rely on your partner to order for you at a restaurant or repeat what everyone is saying at a dinner party. And going out solo to socialize will also be easier. You will be able to enrich your relationship by bringing back stories and adventures to share.
Your partner’s needs will be more accessible to you
There are many ways that hearing more might help make your partner’s life a little easier. Maybe, thanks to your hearing aids, you notice the timer go off and come in to help with dinner. Or perhaps you ask your partner if they’re ok when you hear them stumble on the floor. You will have the opportunity to ask your partner what’s wrong if you hear them grumble under their breath.
All of this may not sound like much of a big deal. But added up, these little gestures show your commitment and compassion. They demonstrate your level of care. And that’s what partners are supposed to do! You will have a much easier time achieving this with hearing aids which will help you pick up on more discreet audio cues.
You won’t miss the power of a whisper
When you suffer from hearing loss, particularly when you haven’t noticed your symptoms, it might be hard to recognize that you’ve stopped hearing those breathy whispers shared during romantic occasions. And part of the fun of being intimate, let’s be truthful, is those discreet, hushed occasions. A hearing aid will allow you to experience the power of a whisper again. This means that your experience of partnership will be that much more profound.
Helping Your Relationship
To be certain, a hearing aid won’t solve 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 pleasurable and enriching and that’s the main point here.
So when hearing loss gets in the way of your connections, your relationships can get dicey and it can be tricky finding the reason. Schedule an appointment with us, a hearing aid could return welcome intimacy to your love life.