When you imagine hearing aids, intimacy most likely isn’t the first thing you think about. We get it. These little devices are usually advertised in rather concrete terms. Less defined expressions such as poetry, music, and art are more suited to the topic of love.
But you might want to begin viewing your hearing aid as an intimacy device because of the strong connection between your hearing and your relationship. After all, the social isolation that comes from untreated hearing loss can also mean isolation from your partner. That means it isn’t just talking with the cashier at the grocery store that becomes more challenging, it’s also maintaining your most important and intimate relationships.
Hearing loss doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t enjoy beautiful relationships and deep emotional connections. It’s just that doing so takes special care and well-practiced adjustments. You most likely haven’t developed those skills if your hearing loss has progressed slowly and that could mean your relationships might suffer.
True intimacy, though, and enhanced personal relationships can come from something as basic as using a hearing aid. Hearing aids can have a positive influence on your love life in the following ways.
Improved communication
It’s no secret that healthy relationships require good communication (although, it is often harder to practice than it is to preach). Everyone will feel more appreciated and valued with good communication permitting stronger emotional connections and reducing arguments.
But the challenge becomes even more pronounced with hearing loss which can severely interfere with normal communication.
A hearing aid will help most quickly in the following ways:
- The softer, whispered moments won’t get lost. To put it directly, there’s no yelling in pillow talk. A hearing aid will foster more of those quiet, hushed experiences between you and your partner.
- Your boosted energy levels will make it easier to communicate.When you experience hearing loss, speaking and listening can take a lot of energy, leaving you feeling drained. 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 really romantic night. But if you can’t hear what’s going on all night, that won’t be very fun either. It’s easy to understand how this arrangement could cause resentment.
Your independence can be preserved by using hearing aids. Your partner won’t have to order your food at a restaurant or be your translator when you’re having dinner with friends. And going out solo to socialize will also be easier. This means you’ll have adventures and stories that you can bring back 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 scuffle 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 complain under their breath.
All of this might 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 tough time hearing those breathy whispers shared during romantic moments when you have hearing loss, particularly if it has developed so slowly you didn’t even notice. And let’s be truthful, those hushed sounds are part of the fun of intimacy. 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 powerful.
Helping Your Relationship
To be sure, a hearing aid isn’t going to solve every problem with your relationship. Nor is it impossible to have intimacy with hearing loss. 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 scrambling to find a cause, it might be that your hearing loss is inhibiting your connections. Make an appointment with us, a hearing aid could return welcome intimacy to your love life.
