Hearing Loss & Relationships: Why You Should Talk to Your Partner about Hearing Loss

If you’ve been married for a while, you know that relationships aren’t always easy. There are times you don’t see eye to eye, and even a simple misunderstanding can lead to an argument. If your partner has hearing loss, communication becomes even more of a challenge, and your relationship will suffer. If your spouse has hearing loss, you need to talk about it and make changes to save your relationship.

For many Americans, hearing loss can seem like an embarrassment. Admitting you have a health concerns is hard for anyone, but with hearing loss it’s not just admitting you can’t hear, it’s facing the fact that you’re getting older. Rather than admit to hearing loss, your partner is more likely to withdraw from social settings or stay home instead of meeting friends for dinner, placing the blame on others. When following conversations becomes difficult and participating in social settings is nearly impossible, your loved one starts to create more distance between themselves and their friends instead of facing their hearing loss.

If your spouse has hearing loss and they don’t like to go out to social gatherings, your relationship comes under pressure as you are one of a few people your loved one talks to. You act as their ears, telling them what’s going on around them, and helping them with simple tasks like going through the grocery store check-out counter or crossing the street safely.

Within your own relationship, hearing loss can be a fatal blow. If your partner has hearing loss, you have to repeat yourself over and over again, and this becomes frustrating. Communication breaks down, since they have difficulty hearing and understanding even simple conversations. Straining to hear just the words, your loved one often misses the content, and you finally give up altogether. Conversations turn into shouting matches about simple things like what you want to eat for lunch, and you never get around to the important things.

Before you start a conversation about hearing loss, make sure you know the facts. Come prepared with specific examples of your partner’s hearing loss. Do they watch TV with the volume far too loud? Do they struggle to hear on the phone or in a noisy restaurant with background noise? Do they constantly ask you to repeat yourself? These are all common signs of hearing loss.

For your loved one, hearing aids will be a lifesaver, not the nightmare they’ve been imagining. They’ll give your loved one their independence and confidence back. If they’re reluctant to accept the idea of wearing hearing devices, find a few testimonials about living with hearing aids, either from friends or online. If your partner knows how hearing aids can change lives, they’ll be more open to discussing hearing aids in their own lives.

Hearing aids of today are sleek, sophisticated pieces of technology that fit snuggling into the ear, hidden from view. There’s no buzzing, whistling, or feedback, and advanced programs and settings means the hearing aids will fit perfectly into your lifestyle, whether your loved one is an active grandparent, office worker, or retired music lover.

Hearing devices will let you have real conversations again, and reconnect on a deeper level. You won’t get frustrated trying to make yourself understood, and your loved one will be able to participate in a social life again, meeting family and friends and following every conversation with ease.

One way to start a conversation about hearing loss is to take a simple online hearing quiz, such as the one at https://www.phonak.com/in/en/online-hearing-test.html. Answering these questions about their hearing loss will start the conversation, and give you both a clear picture of the problem. Asking questions such as “Do people seem to mumble a lot?” or “Do you have difficulty understanding in noise?” will help your loved one recognize that they are struggling with hearing loss.

Once you’ve had the initial conversation with your partner, book an appointment for a hearing test at one of our My Hearing Center locations, so we can join the conversation. On average, people don’t admit they have hearing loss or seek treatment for 7 years! In this time their hearing continues to deteriorate, and their relationships suffer. Don’t let this happen to you. If you or your partner have hearing loss, visit us today. Early treatment will safeguard your hearing, keep you active, strengthen your friendships, and even save your marriage.

For more information and to schedule a hearing test, contact us at My Hearing Centers today.