How Untreated Hearing Loss Interferes with Your Relationships
Do you feel like you are having to ask people to repeat themselves more and more often? You may blame this on the way someone mumbles or doesn’t speak loud enough, but in truth these are common signs of hearing loss. Hearing loss can sneak up on you over the years as it starts slowly and becomes more of an issue over time. However, because of its gradual nature, your brain normalizes the loss. In fact, it takes people on average around 7 years from the time they start experiencing issues with hearing to take action and attempt to treat their hearing loss. For those who need hearing aids, when they first put them in, they may be shocked by how clear and sharp sounds can be. However, over time, your brain will normalize the lost sounds, making it easier for you to hear.
One thing that is more difficult to recover from after years of living with untreated hearing loss are the rifts in your relationships. Relationships in our lives are precious and priceless and years of hearing issues can build resentment and distance even with those closest to you. However, over time, by investing in treating a hearing loss with hearing aids the good news is that you have a chance to rebuild your relationships again. Here are some ways that hearing loss erodes communication and intimacy and how hearing aids can help!
Hearing Loss at Home
Communication is the cornerstone of healthy relationships. It allows us to collaborate every day, as well as joke, play, convey emotions and real concerns. By learning and practicing healthy communication, we can learn not only to love our family, partners and friends with more support and care, but we will receive that care in return.
When hearing loss sets in it can have a real impact on your home life. Small miscommunications can build into long standing resentment. You may miss important instructions or asks from loved ones, leading to blunders and mistakes. Even nightly squabbles around the volume of the television will build up into serious resentment. You can’t hear the TV unless it’s at top volume but that is uncomfortable for others with normal hearing. It’s up to you to act around your hearing loss. There are so many technological options available to help you hear the TV better from hearing aids to TV headphones. Admitting you have a problem is the first step to acting and discovering a path to healing resentment.
Admitting You Have an Issue
Stigma around hearing loss often keeps people from seeking the help they need. Though more prevalent for those 60 and beyond, hearing loss can occur at any age. People fear that admitting they have a hearing loss and treating it with hearing aids, will make them appear old or weak. In truth, asking people to repeat or replying to the wrong thing often makes people seem older. Ideally you will wear your hearing aids every day from the moment you wake up till the time you go to sleep. This allows you to be ready for anything or anybody in your life you encounter. When you start wearing hearing aids it may take a few days to get used to them but once you do, you’ll find it’s easier to connect to the people you love at home, work and anywhere you go.
Listen to Your Loved Ones
You may not realize you have a hearing issue until it’s difficult to hear even in the most ideal of settings. However, the people you meet everyday often notice well before that. If they address you with a real concern about your hearing, it’s best to take it seriously. It can be a difficult reality to accept, but denial will only drive a deeper wedge between the people you love in your life. We as humans are social creatures. We need connection to give us a sense of belonging to something greater than just ourselves. Therefore healthy hearing is essential. If someone you love has suggested that you may have an issue with your hearing, don’t wait for it to get worse. Contact us today to set up your next hearing and cognitive exam. We can identify the state of your hearing and help you find the best solution to help you hear and stay connected to the people in your life that you love.