For those with hearing loss, a hearing aid can be life changing. There are many areas of life where a hearing aid can be beneficial, from everyday tasks like buying groceries to things like travel and work. But perhaps one of the most significant and most important positive impacts a hearing aid can make is on your relationship and how comfortable you are in social events.
Because hearing loss can come on gradually, it can often be challenging to recognize the impact it is having on relationships and confidence in social events. The severity of hearing loss can vary greatly, so it might be that you and your partner or friends notice you asking them to repeat themselves often or you might need to have the TV volume higher.
So how can a hearing aid make a positive impact on your social life and relationships?
Anxiety and Confidence
Two of the most common things that happen with hearing loss are increased anxiety and reduced confidence. With hearing loss, social occasions can become tricky to navigate. The sounds in the background, like other people talking and music, combined with general ambient noise, can make it difficult to distinguish speaking to someone.
When the sounds become muddy, parts of the conversation can be missed or misinterpreted – leading to a feeling of missing out. Over time it often becomes easier for the person with hearing loss to withdraw from social events, and that can leave their partner going to everything alone.
Less Miscommunication
Miscommunication can be one of the most significant issues in a relationship. When you have hearing loss, miscommunication is more likely. Even a tiny miscommunication can result in an argument or missing a vital instruction. For example, if you were asked to pick something up or call someone and didn’t quite catch all of the information but were embarrassed to ask your partner or family member to repeat it, you might do the wrong thing. This can become consistent and cause mistrust or resentment.
In social settings, when using a hearing aid, you will be able to properly distinguish between people speaking to you and the background noise, so you’re not going to miss anything there, either. A hearing aid greatly benefits good communication.
More Choice
Perhaps you and your partner or friends and family, used to love to go on outings and as your hearing loss becomes more evident, you have slowly stopped. A hearing aid will mean that you can enjoy all of your favorite activities without worrying about it. Most public places and entertainment venues now have loop systems, making them accessible for those with hearing loss. When you don’t have anxiety or low confidence due to hearing loss, you will be more open to a broader range of activities.
Or perhaps your friends and family love to go out and have new experiences! When you have hearing loss and no hearing aid, these can be more difficult to enjoy. With a hearing aid, you’ll have the confidence to follow instructions and take part in any activity with your loved ones to the absolute fullest.
Independence
Some people who have hearing loss become reliant on friends and family for everyday things like phone calls, going to appointments and even grocery shopping. And while the support system you have around you is happy to help, over time, this can mean you lose your independence and become isolated. A hearing aid means that you can regain independence and confidence. This means you and your partner can be spontaneous when you want to attend events together!
Daily Life
Our daily lives are built upon little things like shared jokes, shopping lists, appointments and watching favorite TV shows,. Hearing loss has an impact on all of these areas, and that can become difficult for intimacy and togetherness.
When the building block of the life you have built isn’t as strong as they once were, things like miscommunication, misinterpretation, stress and anxiety can be challenging to navigate.
Getting a hearing aid fitted will mean that you can have the same daily lifestyle that you love and not miss anything.
Having a hearing aid fitted can make a significant positive impact on the relationships and social life of those who have hearing loss. From everyday activities to being able to enjoy large social events and keep romance and intimacy alive in romantic relationships. Talk with your hearing instrument specialist today. Talk to Audio Hearing Aid Service about your hearing concerns and call us today at 330-244-9881 or 330-364-6637.
