When you think about hearing aids, intimacy probably isn’t the first thing you consider. We get it. These little devices are normally advertised in rather concrete terms. Less defined expressions like poetry, music, and art are more suited to the topic of love.
And yet, the two are closely connected to the point where you may want to begin viewing your hearing aid as an intimacy device. After all, when doctors, researchers, and hearing specialists discuss “social isolation caused by hearing loss,” they’re also referencing isolation from your partner. Which means it’s not just talking with the cashier at the supermarket that becomes more difficult, it’s also maintaining your most important and intimate relationships.
Hearing loss doesn’t inevitably mean you can’t enjoy beautiful relationships and deep emotional connections. It’s just that doing so takes special care and well-practiced adaptations. If you’ve been losing your hearing slowly and over time, you probably haven’t developed those extra skills, as a result, your relationships could suffer.
By the same token, something as simple as a hearing aid can quickly and easily improve these priceless relationships and make true intimacy more possible. Here are just a few ways that hearing aids could have a positive impact on your love life.
Improved communication
It’s no secret that healthy relationships require strong communication (though, it is sometimes harder to practice than it is to preach). Taking the time to communicate can help avoid arguments, increase emotional connections, and make everyone feel more valued and appreciated.
But the difficulty becomes even more evident with hearing loss which can significantly impede normal communication.
Here’s how a hearing aid will be most beneficial:
- You’ll catch more of those softer, whispered moments. Let’s be truthful, it’s not pillow talk if you have to yell. A hearing aid will foster more of those quiet, hushed experiences between you and your partner.
- You’ll have more energy for communication.Hearing loss can leave you exhausted from struggling to communicate. With a hearing aid, chatting can be fun and energizing again.
Your partner won’t have to be your translator
If your partner needs to repeat everything people are saying, it doesn’t make for a really romantic night. But if you can’t hear what’s happening all night, that won’t be very enjoyable either. It’s not difficult to imagine the kind of resentment this could cause.
Your independence can be protected by wearing hearing aids. Your partner won’t need to order your food at a restaurant or be your translator when you’re having dinner with friends. In addition, it will be easier to continue going out and socializing on your own! You will be able to enrich your relationship by bringing back stories and adventures to share.
You’ll be more receptive to your partner’s needs
Your partner’s life will be so much easier in so many ways if you can hear more. Maybe, thanks to your hearing aids, you notice the timer go off and jump in to help with dinner. Or perhaps you ask your partner if they’re ok when you hear them stumble on the floor. When you hear your partner grumbling under their breath, you have a chance to ask what’s the matter.
These might sound small and perhaps even insignificant. But these little gestures, taken together, will show your partner that you’re compassionate and committed. They demonstrate your level of care. And that will make you a quality partner. You will have a much easier time accomplishing this with hearing aids which will help you detect more 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 gradually you didn’t even notice. And part of the pleasure of being intimate, let’s be truthful, is those discreet, quiet moments. A hearing aid will let you experience the power of a whisper again. Which means you’ll be capable of enjoying the intimacy of your partnership in a more powerful way.
Helping Your Relationship
Every problem in your relationship won’t be remedied using a hearing aid, obviously. And if you do suffer from hearing loss, you can still have romance. The point here is that a hearing aid will make specific facets of your love life more pleasurable and more enriching.
So if your relationship is a little… dicey… and you’re struggling to find a cause, it might be that your hearing loss is inhibiting your connections. Schedule an appointment with us, a hearing aid could bring back welcome intimacy to your love life.