Intimacy isn’t normally the first thing that comes to mind when you think about hearing aids. We get it. These tiny devices are normally advertised in rather concrete terms. Love, conversely, is something better suited for poetry, music, and art.
And yet, the two are closely linked to the point where you might want to start thinking of 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 referencing isolation from your partner. That means preserving intimate relationships will be just as difficult as trying to talk with the clerk at the store.
That doesn’t mean 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 most likely haven’t developed those skills if your hearing loss has progressed slowly and that could mean your relationships might suffer.
By the same token, something as simple as a hearing aid can quickly and easily enhance these priceless relationships and make true intimacy more possible. Hearing aids can have a positive affect on your love life in the following ways.
Improved communication
It’s no secret that healthy relationships require strong communication (though, it is often harder to practice than it is to preach). Taking the time to communicate can help prevent arguments, enhance emotional connections, and make everyone feel more respected and appreciated.
But the difficulty becomes even more pronounced with hearing loss which can severely impede normal communication.
A hearing aid will help most rapidly in the following ways:
- You’ll have more vitality for communication.Hearing loss can leave you exhausted from struggling to communicate. With a hearing aid, chatting can be fun and energizing again.
- The softer, whispered moments won’t get lost. Let’s be truthful, it isn’t pillow talk if you have to shout. A hearing aid will foster more of those quiet, hushed experiences between you and your partner.
You won’t need to use your partner as a 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. Similarly, you won’t have a very good time if you can’t hear anything that’s happening all night. It’s not difficult to imagine the type of resentment this might cause.
A hearing aid can help maintain 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 socializing on your own! This means you’ll have stories and adventures that you can bring home to your partner, enriching your relationship in the process.
You’ll be more receptive to your partner’s needs
There are a lot of ways that hearing more could help make your partner’s life a little easier. Maybe, thanks to your hearing aids, you hear 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. 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 together, these little gestures demonstrate your commitment and compassion. They show you care. And that will make you a quality partner. A hearing aid makes that much easier to achieve because you’ll recognize those sometimes subtle audio cues.
You won’t miss the power of a whisper
When you have 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 intimate moments. And part of the fun of being intimate, let’s be truthful, is those discreet, quiet moments. A hearing aid will allow you to 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
Every issue with your relationship won’t be solved using a hearing aid, clearly. Nor is it impossible to have romance with hearing loss. The point here is that a hearing aid will make certain aspects of your love life more pleasurable and more enriching.
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 bring back welcome intimacy to your love life.