Health and Wellness: The impact of hearing loss on relationships

Submitted by Dr. Melissa Palmer/ Clayton Audiology

Hearing loss can significantly affect many aspects of your life, including your relationships. Misunderstandings, arguments and frustration can arise when one partner experiences hearing loss and the other is unaware. Feelings of isolation and even depression can arise when a person struggles to communicate effectively.

COMMON ISSUES CAUSED BY HEARING LOSS

• Arguments: Hearing loss can lead to more frequent and intense arguments.

• Feeling Ignored: When one partner doesn't respond to the other, feelings of neglect can arise.

• Social Withdrawal: The difficulty in hearing and understanding conversations can lead to social isolation and a sense of loneliness.

• Strained Intimacy: Communication difficulties can hinder emotional closeness and intimacy.

• Selective Hearing: Partners might mistakenly attribute hearing loss to "selective hearing," leading to resentment.

• Self-Esteem Issues: Hearing loss can impact self-esteem, particularly when individuals feel embarrassed or ashamed about their condition.

• Stress and Anxiety: The constant effort to hear and understand can be exhausting and contribute to stress and anxiety

TIPS FOR LIVING WITH SOMEONE WITH HEARING LOSS

• Encourage a Hearing Exam: A professional diagnosis can help manage hearing loss and improve communication.

• Face-to-Face Communication: Visual cues can aid understanding for people with hearing loss. Maintaining eye contact can help your partner understand your speech better.

• Patience and Understanding: Be patient, repeat yourself clearly and use different words to explain things.

• Avoid Shouting: Shouting can distort speech and make it more difficult to understand.

• Support Hearing Aid Use: Help your partner adjust to hearing aids and avoid stressful situations.

• Choose Quiet Environments: When possible, communicate in quiet settings to minimize background noise. By addressing hearing loss and implementing effective communication strategies, couples can strengthen their relationships and overcome the challenges posed by this condition.

THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY

In recent years, advancements in hearing aid technology have made a significant difference in the lives of people with hearing loss. Hearing aids are now smaller, more discreet and offer a wider range of features to cater to individual needs, including:

• Smart Hearing Aids: These devices can connect to smartphones and other devices, allowing for remote adjustments and features like noise reduction and directional microphones.

• Cochlear Implants: For individuals with severe to profound hearing loss, cochlear implants can provide a sense of hearing by directly stimulating the auditory nerve.

• Assistive listening devices: Remote microphones and TV streamers can be added to improve the signal to noise ratio and help with TV clarity.

BENEFITS OF TREATING HEARING LOSS

• Improved speech understanding

• Improved quality of Life

• Decreased depression

• Decreased anxiety and stress

• Reduce the risk of cognitive decline

SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP

If you or someone you know is experiencing hearing loss, it's important to seek professional help. Audiologists can conduct comprehensive hearing evaluations and recommend appropriate solutions, such as hearing aids or assistive listening devices Remember that early diagnosis and treatment can help mitigate the negative impacts of hearing loss on relationships and overall quality of life.

Dr. Melissa Palmer is the owner of Clayton Audiology. Learn more at claytonaudiology.com.