When you think about hearing aids, intimacy probably isn’t the first thing you consider. We get it. The advertising on these little devices is rather straightforward. Less defined expressions including poetry, music, and art are more suited to the topic of love.
But you might want to begin looking at your hearing aid as an intimacy device because of the strong connection between your hearing and your relationship. After all, the social separation that comes from neglected hearing loss can also mean isolation from your partner. That means preserving intimate relationships will be just as difficult as trying to communicate with the clerk at the store.
That’s not to say someone with hearing loss isn’t able to form deep bonds or of experiencing beautiful, lasting relationships. It’s just that doing so takes particular care and well-practiced adaptations. You probably haven’t developed 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 simple as wearing a hearing aid. Hearing aids can have a positive influence on your love life in the following ways.
Improved communication
Obviously, healthy relationships need good communication (though, it is often harder to practice than it is to preach). Taking the time to communicate can help avoid arguments, increase emotional connections, and make everybody feel more respected and appreciated.
But hearing loss can compound normal communication hurdles in the process making a difficult task much more difficult.
Here’s how a hearing aid will be most helpful:
- The quieter, whispered moments won’t get lost. To put it directly, there’s no shouting 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.When you have hearing loss, speaking and listening can consume a lot of energy, leaving you feeling exhausted. Conversations can once again be fun and stimulating.
You won’t need to use your partner as a translator
Going out with a group of friends won’t be all that much fun when your partner spends most of their time repeating everybody for your benefit. But if you can’t hear what’s happening all night, that won’t be very enjoyable either. It’s easy to understand how this arrangement could breed resentment.
A hearing aid can help preserve your independence. Your partner won’t need to order your food at a restaurant or be your translator when you’re having dinner with friends. And going out alone to socialize will also be easier. You will be able to enrich your relationship by bringing home stories and adventures to share.
You’ll be more receptive to your partner’s needs
Your partner’s daily life will be so much easier in so many ways if you can hear clearly. Perhaps you jump up and help with dinner because your hearing aids let you hear the cook timer ring. Or maybe you hear your partner stumble on the floor and ask if they’re alright. When you hear your partner complaining under their breath, you have a chance to ask what’s the matter.
These may sound small and maybe even unimportant. But added together, these little gestures demonstrate your commitment and compassion. They demonstrate your level of care. And that’s what partners are should do! You will have a much easier time achieving this with hearing aids which will help you pick up on more subtle 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 hard to recognize that you’ve stopped hearing those breathy whispers shared during intimate occasions. And part of the pleasure of being intimate, let’s be honest, is those subtle, quiet moments. You will once more be able to experience the power of a whisper. This means that your experience of partnership will be that much more powerful.
Helping Your Relationship
To be certain, a hearing aid won’t solve every issue in your relationship. And if you do have hearing loss, you can still have romance. The point here is that a hearing aid will make specific elements of your love life more pleasurable and more enriching.
So if your relationship is a little… dicey… and you’re trying 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 bring back welcome intimacy to your love life.