Ways To Support Your Significant Other With Hearing Loss

Hearing loss not only affects the life of the person who has hearing loss, it also affects the lives of the people around them, particularly their romantic partners. However, with a positive attitude, good communication strategies, and the right hearing aid solution, couples can overcome the challenges of hearing loss and move forward into the future closer than ever.

Stay Social

We all desire intimate connections with others. For a romantic partner, this connection is often built upon shared activities and interests. A study by Action on Hearing Loss found that when one person in a relationship had hearing loss, the couples’ participation in social activities lessened.¹  It is understandable why these couples may decrease their social outings, however taking the right steps can help those with hearing loss feel confident in those settings once again. Whether it’s a night out or a get-together with family and friends, today’s advanced hearing aid technologies can reduce the background noise and anxiety these situations create, making it easier to enjoy these moments again.

Share Household Tasks

While dividing household tasks can be difficult for all couples, hearing loss may make this a bit trickier, as it may call for a temporary transfer of established responsibilities. One partner can show support by taking on tasks that may initially cause stress or anxiety for their significant other—like calling the bank or interacting with others at the grocery store—until a comfort level of communicating with a new hearing aid is achieved. Those with hearing loss who are still getting used to today’s more effective hearing aids can reciprocate by taking on the chores they feel more comfortable doing. Through practice, patience, improved hearing, and better speech intelligibility, couples can work toward getting back to their familiar routines.

Provide Support

If a loved one is struggling with hearing loss, it’s only natural that their partner may be worried about situations that depend on one’s ability to hear. Things like smoke alarms, spoken warnings, or traffic sounds on the road can be cause for concern. This worry is normal. With the combination of appropriate education and counseling, along with readily available technology, partners can encourage and support their loved ones to maintain their much-needed independence and give both partners peace of mind.

Communication is Key

The key to maintaining a deep connection with your significant other throughout these new  challenges lies in positive communication. For couples to support one another, it is recommended that partners take an active role in appointments with a hearing care professional.¹ Sharing in these visits will give partners a better understanding of their significant other’s difficulties, and what can be done about them. Fortunately, today’s hearing aids not only amplify sound and reduce background noise better than ever, but also improve speech intelligibility as well. So, if you have an older device, you may benefit dramatically from a technology upgrade.

Start on the road to better communication by finding a hearing center near you and discover how Sonic can help make Everyday Sounds Better—for you and your significant other.

 

References:

Echalier, M. In it together: the impact of hearing loss on personal relationships. Action on Hearing Loss (formerly Royal National Institute for Deaf People, RNID). London, UK; 2010. In It together article.

To book your hearing assessment today, contact your local Sonic partner clinic