The Impact of Hearing Loss on Your Relationship
(and What You Can Do About it)
It’s easy to see hearing loss as just a personal medical issue. But in reality, it affects every part of life, especially relationships. Imagine trying to chat with your partner, friends, or family, and constantly missing bits of what they’re saying. Suddenly, simple conversations aren’t so simple anymore. You might find yourself asking, “What did you say?” a lot or (even worse) just nodding along, and that can be frustrating for both people. Over time, this can even put distance between you. If you’ve noticed the impact of hearing loss on your relationship, don’t worry! Read on for advice and tips about what you and your loved ones can do.
How does hearing loss impact relationships?
The impact of hearing loss on your relationship often happens gradually over time and boils down to a breakdown in communication. Misunderstandings happen more often, and sometimes you might skip social gatherings because keeping up with the conversation feels exhausting or embarrassing. Both you and your loved ones can end up feeling isolated. Partners can feel left out, while those with hearing loss may feel guilty or worry they’re being misunderstood.
Frustration and resentment
The breakdown in communication often leads to frustration and, over time, resentment. If your loved one is constantly having to repeat themselves or act as a go-between repeating what you haven’t heard, they may start to feel frustrated. Even if they try not to show this frustration, you may be able to feel the tension and stop asking “can you repeat that?” or, even worse, nod along to conversations or try to get by.
Isolation and loneliness
Often people with hearing loss struggle with background noise. You may go from having an active social life to isolating yourself or your loved ones. Missing out on jokes or intimate conversations can have a negative affect. You might also engage in less shared activities like watching TV together because of the difference in volume.
Loss of identity
Hearing loss can often feel like a loss of identity. Over time, your persona can change. Maybe you were once the life of the party and a social animal but your difficulties hearing have changed that. Hobbies that you used to love may look different now and that can be a confusing and scary time.
Need help speaking to someone about their hearing loss?
Living with a spouse, partner or family member with hearing loss can be frustrating for everyone involved. Trust us, we know! The most important first step is having an honest and open conversation about it. It’s best to make the conversation a one-to-one discussion. Both for practical reasons (so they can hear you) and so your loved one doesn’t feel ganged up on. You know them best, pick a quiet time when you’re both in a good mood and try and be firm but fair. Key things to mention are:
- How you feel their hearing loss is affecting your relationship and the relationships with those around them.
- Discuss the impact of hearing loss broadly too. They may not be aware of all the ways that their hearing is affecting their quality of life.
- Tell them you’re concerned for their health and the wider impact hearing loss can have (see our blog on the link between hearing loss and dementia).
- Tell them you’re concerned for your own health. Hearing loss can cause physical and emotional stress for loved ones as well.
- Make an appointment to have a hearing assessment yourself and ask them to go with you. It’s worth having a hearing test yourself anyway and seeing how quick and easy the process is might encourage them to book one too.
Tips for communicating with someone with hearing loss
- Getting their attention with a wave or gentle tap on the arm and saying their name before starting a conversation is a great start.
- Speaking to them face to face in good lighting with nothing obscuring your face allows them to read facial expressions and lip read.
- Reducing background noise can make it much more pleasant for everyone involved. Turning down the TV, closing doors or moving to another room if possible are all helpful ways to keep frustrations to a minimum.
- Rephrase, don’t just repeat. If someone has misunderstood you, try using a different word or rephrasing the sentence rather than repeating the same words louder.
- Use visuals such as gestures, facial expressions and writing things down if needed.
- Be patient and understanding. Hearing fatigue is real and your loved one may need some more time to process the conversation.
- Don’t give up! Avoid saying “never mind” or “I’ll tell you later” as this can add to isolation. Instead, try some of the tips above and don’t forget to be kind to yourself too.
For more communication tips, you can visit RNID here.
Can wearing hearing aids affect the impact of hearing loss on your relationship for the better?
Yes! If you have a hearing loss, hearing aids can help in so many ways. By improving your hearing, you are also improving your overall quality of life and your relationships. With hearing aids you should notice:
- Improved communication as the hearing aids makes speech clearer and louder even in noisy environments.
- Less frustration and tension as hearing aids can ease the burden placed on your loved ones to compensate for your hearing loss.
- Reduced mental fatigue and exhaustion. Hearing aids increase clarity and reduce the brainpower needed to interpret sounds.
- Better social life as they should help you feel more confident and connected in group conversations and social activities.
- Improved cognitive and mental health as the brain is keeping stimulated which reduces the risk of developing dementia.
- Tinnitus relief as hearing aids amplify external sounds which masks the internal tinnitus sounds making them less noticeable.
For more information on hearing aids, you can check out our blogs on some of the latest products from manufacturers such as Oticon, Starkey and Widex.
