Hearing loss can feel like a personal battle. However, it’s not just the person with the condition who struggles. Hearing loss can take its toll on family members as well.
Let’s examine the ways hearing loss can affect your family, as well as what can be done to reduce the impact it has on your relationships.
Hearing Loss Makes It Harder To Connect
Communication is the key to any good relationship. Unfortunately, hearing loss can make it harder to communicate and connect with others. Not only does hearing loss make bigger events, like a family reunion or an anniversary dinner with your spouse at Spritz City Bistro, much more overwhelming and stressful, but it affects everyday interactions as well.
Whether it’s making small talk during breakfast, asking for help with household chores or making little jokes or comments to each other throughout the day, these moments are crucial to continuing to build intimacy and connection in your closest relationships. When your ability to do that is hampered by the miscommunications that often come with hearing loss, it can lead to feelings of frustration and isolation for everyone.
Hearing Loss May Be Especially Hard for Spouses
The relationship with your spouse or partner is likely the most affected by hearing loss. From an increase in misunderstandings and frustration over having to repeat themselves frequently to having to take on greater responsibilities to help with your hearing loss, your spouse may be feeling overwhelmed in ways you don’t even fully realize.
A study analyzing relationships between spouses where one person has hearing loss found that “spouse hearing loss increased the likelihood of subsequent poorer physical, psychological, and social well-being in partners.”
What To Do if a Family Member Wants To Talk About Your Hearing Loss
If your spouse or other close family member wants to discuss your hearing loss, it can be normal to feel defensive. However, it’s important to try and remain receptive and open to what they have to say. You may be surprised to learn all the ways that they’ve been affected.
Equally important is that you schedule an appointment for a hearing test. These tests are quick, painless and will offer immediate insight into whether or not you have hearing loss and to what degree. If any hearing loss is discovered, your audiologist will discuss treatment options, which will likely include hearing aids.
Hearing aids make it easier for you to understand sounds and communicate in different environments. This can improve your relationships, increase your independence, and make life more enjoyable for you and those closest to you.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact The Hear Care Center today.