It’s something a lot of people suffer with, but few want to talk about – hearing loss and its impact on personal relationships. Both partners can feel aggravated by the misunderstandings that are caused by hearing loss.
This is the perfect time for you to express your love and appreciation for your loved one with Valentine’s Day just around the corner. A wonderful way to do this is to talk to your loved one about your hearing loss.

Having “the talk”

Studies have found that a person with untreated hearing loss is 2.4 times more likely to develop dementia, and that includes Alzheimer’s disease. When the region of your brain responsible for hearing becomes less engaged, it can start a cascade effect that can affect your whole brain. This is referred to as brain atrophy by doctors. It’s the “use it or lose it” principle in action.

Depression rates among those who have hearing loss are nearly twice that of a person who has healthy hearing. Studies have shown that as a person’s hearing loss gets worse, they often become anxious and agitated. This can result in the person being self isolated from friends and family. They are also likely to avoid getting involved in the activities they used to enjoy as they sink deeper into a state of sadness.

Relationships between family, friends, and others then become tense. Communication issues need to be managed with patients and compassion.

Mystery solved

Someone who is experiencing hearing loss might not be ready to discuss it. They might be afraid or ashamed. They may be in denial. You may need to do some detective work to determine when it’s time to have the talk.

Since you can’t hear what your partner or parent hears, you’ll have to depend on outward clues, such as:

• School, work, and hobbies are starting to become difficult
• Agitation or anxiety in social settings that you haven’t previously observed
• Complaining about buzzing, humming, static, or other sounds that you can’t hear
• Failing to hear alarms, doorbells, and other important sounds
• Avoiding busy places
• Avoiding conversations
• Watching television with the volume really high
• Repeated misunderstandings

Watch for these prevalent symptoms and plan to have a heart-to-heart conversation with your loved one.

How to talk about hearing loss

This discussion may not be an easy one to have. A partner in denial may brush it off or become defensive. That’s why it’s essential to approach hearing loss in a sensitive and appropriate way. The steps will be essentially the same but possibly with some slight alterations based on your specific relationship situation.

• Step 1: Let them know that you love them unconditionally and value your relationship.
• Step 2: The state of their health is very important to you. You’ve read the studies. You know that untreated hearing loss can result in a higher risk of depression and dementia. You don’t want your loved one to go through that.
• Step 3: Your own safety and health are also a worry. An overly loud TV could harm your hearing. Additionally, research shows that increased noise can trigger anxiety, which might affect your relationship. If you have a burglar in your house or you’ve taken a fall, your partner might not hear you calling for help. Emotion is a strong way to connect with others. Merely listing facts won’t have as much impact as painting an emotional picture.
• Step 4: Make an appointment to get a hearing test together. Do it right away after making the decision. Don’t delay.
• Step 5: Be ready for opposition. You could find these oppositions at any time in the process. This is a person you know well. What will their doubts be? Will it be lack of time, or money? Possibly they don’t detect that it’s a problem. They might feel that home remedies will be just fine. (You recognize “natural hearing loss cures” don’t really work and could cause more harm than good.)

Be ready with your answers. Even a little rehearsal can’t hurt. These responses need to address your loved one’s Worries but they don’t have to match those listed above word-for-word

Relationship growth

If your partner is unwilling to discuss their hearing loss, it can be challenging. Openly discussing the impact of hearing loss on your relationship can help to solidify a plan to deal with any communication issues and ensure that both partners are heard and understood. By having this conversation, you’ll grow closer and get your partner the help they need to live a longer, healthier, more fulfilling life. Growing together – isn’t that what love is all about?

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References

https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing#
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hearing-loss-common-problem-older-adults