15 Feb "What was that, Dear?" – Marriage and Hearing Loss
Ask any couple that has a successful marriage the secret to their success, and most will mention communication as essential to the success of their relationship. Communication allows partners to share their thoughts and opinions, and to convey their emotions to one another – a very important aspect for a healthy relationship.
But what happens if communication capabilities are reduced by hearing loss? If you take away this ability to talk, hear, and respond, the relationship is definitely going to feel the effect.
A 2009 British study demonstrates that relationships are failing because of unmanaged hearing loss. The survey, of 1,500 hearing-impaired people over 55 revealed that:
- Almost one in two (44% of people) said that relationships with their partner, friends or family had suffered because they can’t hear properly.
- A third (34%) have lost touch with friends, and in some cases seen marriages fall apart, as a direct result of the breakdown in communication caused by hearing loss.
- Two thirds (69%) said their hearing loss seriously hinders their ability to take part in everyday conversations with friends and family, causing 52% of those surveyed to feel left out and ignored in social situations.
- Women (72%) were found to be more affected by social exclusion because of hearing loss than men
Another study completed by The Galaxy Research for Deafness Forum on 300 Australians using hearing aids found the following stats:
- More than 50% of respondents believe that hearing aids have improved their social lives.
- 66% of those who took part in the poll revealed that their hearing aids helped them to hear better; more easily connect with family and friends.
- 70% of responders live with their partners so hearing aids make a good thing even better.
- One in 10 poll takers reported improvement in their sex lives.
- 84% reported easier communications with loved ones.
- 75% stated that their loved ones no longer had to shout to be heard (nothing like shouting “sweet nothings” at your sweetie to set the mood, eh?).
- Not a single respondent reported any negative effects of hearing aid use on their social activities.
For these couples, it’s not necessarily a love issue, but an ear issue. If you suspect a hearing loss, there is no reason not to get tested. A hearing test will confirm if there is a hearing loss, and if a hearing loss is identified, today’s hearing aids are advanced and discrete. If you think hearing aids will make you feel old, abandon this outdated stigma and live your life to the fullest by investing in your communication. You, and your relationships, deserve to have you feeling and communicating the best possible. Maybe you feel hearing aids are too expensive for you to afford? If you calculate the average cost, over the course of the average 3-5 year lifespan, you’ll come up with a cost of $2-3 a day – about the same as a cup of coffee.
For most people, their relationships are priceless, so don’t let denial, excuses, or self-consciousness come between you and maintaining healthy relationships. Call and make an appointment today for our February Love Month, where we are celebrating effective communication leading to heathy relationships, by offering loved ones complimentary hearing tests.