Intimacy isn’t normally the first thing that one thinks of when you think about hearing aids. We get it. These little devices are usually presented in very concrete terms. Love, conversely, is something better suited for poetry, music, and art.
But you might want to begin viewing your hearing aid as an intimacy device because of the strong link between your hearing and your relationship. After all, when doctors, researchers, and hearing specialists talk about “social isolation caused by hearing loss,” they’re also referencing isolation from your partner. That means maintaining intimate relationships will be just as challenging as attempting to talk with the clerk at the store.
That doesn’t mean someone with hearing loss isn’t capable of forming deep bonds or of experiencing beautiful, enduring relationships. It’s just that doing so takes specialized care and well-practiced adjustments. If you’ve been losing your hearing slowly and over time, you likely haven’t matured those extra skills, as a result, your relationships could suffer.
True intimacy, though, and enhanced personal relationships can come from something as basic as using a hearing aid. Hearing aids can have a positive affect on your love life in the following ways.
Improved communication
It’s well known that strong communication skills are at the root of a healthy relationship. Taking the time to communicate can help eliminate arguments, improve emotional connections, and make everyone feel more valued and appreciated.
But hearing loss can compound normal communication obstacles in the process making a difficult task much harder.
A hearing aid will help most quickly in the following ways:
- The quieter, whispered moments won’t get lost. Let’s be truthful, it isn’t pillow talk if you have to shout. You and your partner will enjoy those hushed quiet experiences with hearing aids.
- Your boosted energy levels will make it easier to communicate.When you experience hearing loss, talking and listening can take a lot of energy, leaving you feeling drained. 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 very romantic evening. But if you can’t hear what’s happening all night, that won’t be very enjoyable either. It’s not difficult to imagine the type of resentment this could cause.
A hearing aid can help preserve your independence. 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 going out and socializing on your own! This means you’ll have adventures and stories that you can bring back to your partner, enriching your relationship in the process.
You’ll be more receptive to your partner’s needs
There are a thousand 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 hear your partner stumble on the floor and ask if they’re alright. When you hear your partner grumbling 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 show your partner that you’re compassionate and committed. They demonstrate your level of care. And that’s what partners are should do! A hearing aid makes that much easier to achieve because you’ll pick up on those sometimes discreet audio cues.
You won’t miss the power of a whisper
When you suffer from hearing loss, especially when you haven’t noticed your symptoms, it may be tough to recognize that you’ve stopped hearing those breathy whispers shared during intimate moments. And part of the pleasure of being intimate, let’s be truthful, is those subtle, quiet occasions. A hearing aid will allow you to experience the power of a whisper again. Which means you’ll be able to enjoy the intimacy of your partnership in a more powerful way.
Helping Your Relationship
To be sure, a hearing aid won’t fix every issue with your relationship. Nor is it impossible to have romance with hearing loss. The point here is that a hearing aid will make specific facets of your love life more pleasurable and more enriching.
So when hearing loss gets in the way of your connections, your relationships can become dicey and it can be difficult to find the reason. A hearing aid can return needed romance to your relationship so make an appointment as soon as possible.