When you think about hearing aids, intimacy probably isn’t the first thing you consider. We understand. These tiny devices are usually presented in rather concrete terms. Love, on the other hand, is something better suited for poetry, music, and art.
And yet, the two are inextricably linked to the point where you may want to begin thinking of your hearing aid as an intimacy device. After all, when doctors, researchers, and hearing specialists discuss “social isolation due to hearing loss,” they’re also pointing to isolation from your partner. That means it’s not just chatting with the cashier at the grocery store that becomes more difficult, it’s also maintaining your most significant and intimate relationships.
Hearing loss doesn’t inevitably mean you can’t enjoy beautiful relationships and deep emotional connections. It’s just that doing so takes specialized care and well-practiced adaptations. If you’ve been losing your hearing gradually and over time, you likely haven’t developed those additional skills, as a result, your relationships could suffer.
True intimacy, though, and enhanced personal relationships can come from something as simple as using a hearing aid. Hearing aids can have a positive impact on your love life in the following ways.
Improved communication
It’s no secret that healthy relationships call for strong communication (although, it is often harder to practice than it is to preach). Everyone will feel more appreciated and valued with strong communication permitting stronger emotional connections and reducing arguments.
But the challenge becomes even more pronounced with hearing loss which can significantly interfere with normal communication.
Here’s how a hearing aid will be most useful:
- You’ll catch more of those softer, whispered moments. Let’s be truthful, it’s not pillow talk if you have to shout. A hearing aid will let you enjoy more of those quiet, hushed moments between you and your partner.
- Your boosted stamina will make it easier to communicate.When you experience hearing loss, speaking and listening can take a lot of energy, leaving you feeling depleted. Conversations can once again be fun and stimulating.
You won’t need to use your partner as a translator
If your partner has to repeat everything being said, it doesn’t make for a very romantic night. Likewise, you won’t have much fun if you can’t hear anything that’s happening all night. It’s not difficult to imagine the kind of resentment this could cause.
A hearing aid can help protect your independence. You won’t depend on your partner to order food for you at a restaurant or repeat what everyone is saying at a dinner party. In addition, it will be easier to continue going out and 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
Your partner’s life will be so much easier in so many ways if you’re able to hear more. Maybe, thanks to your hearing aids, you notice the timer go off and jump in to help with dinner. Or perhaps you ask your partner if they need help when you hear them stumble on the floor. You will have the chance to ask your partner what’s wrong if you hear them complain under their breath.
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 show you care. And that’s what partners are should do! A hearing aid makes that a lot easier to accomplish because you’ll recognize those sometimes subtle audio cues.
You won’t miss the power of a whisper
You may have a difficult time hearing those breathy whispers shared during intimate moments when you have hearing loss, especially if it has progressed so gradually you didn’t even detect it. And part of the pleasure of being romantic, let’s be honest, is those discreet, quiet moments. 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
Every problem in your relationship won’t be solved using a hearing aid, clearly. And if you do have hearing loss, you can still have intimacy. Hearing aids will make certain elements of your love life more pleasurable and enriching and that’s the main point here.
So when hearing loss blocks your connections, your relationships can get dicey and it can be tricky finding a cause. A hearing aid can bring back needed romance to your relationship so make an appointment right away.