Hearing Loss
How do relationships last decades? Attraction? That’s true. I don’t mean superficial attraction, but the kind that makes you feel like you can’t live without someone. Patience is crucial. Even if our partner drives us crazy, we must be patient. Relationships take time, care, and attention to grow. Acceptance is also important. We must accept people as they are. If you wait for someone to slowly become your dream partner, you’re doing them and yourself a disservice. Communication is key to maintaining a relationship.
Disrupting communication can strain a relationship. You may think ignorance, apathy, or emotional laziness are the only communication barriers in a relationship, but hearing loss can take a toll over time. Many assume they’ll experience hearing loss later in life, but many young people do as well.
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The Frustrations Of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can cause frustration, miscommunication, and arguments in relationships. It makes you feel ignored and unimportant. You may know that the communication barrier isn’t your partner’s fault, but this doesn’t help.
You can’t ignore these feelings. They’ll skew, fester, and poison the relationship. Here are some ways to educate yourself, show empathy, and support others.
Live A Day Like Them
Relationships require empathy. When our own hearing is perfect, it’s hard to empathize with someone who hasn’t. Hard-of-hearing people can take up to 5 seconds to process a simple “yes or no” question, which seems like an eternity to someone with perfect hearing. Spend a day with them to understand their condition. Try your day with headphones or earplugs. You’ll hear muffled and distorted sounds and feel their daily struggles. The next time you’re frustrated with them, remember this experience.
Don’t Feel Bad For Feeling Frustrated
It’s important to avoid self-blame when frustrated. You’re human, so your partner must also empathize with you. Obviously, you shouldn’t say this when you’re angry. Discuss your frustration with your partner and work together to reduce miscommunication and frustration. Remind your partner that you’re frustrated by the situation, not them when you get angry.
Be Realistic
Whatever the cause of someone’s hearing loss, treatment can make their lives (and yours) easier. Hard-of-hearing people can empower themselves with hearing aids. Only 1 in 4 hearing-impaired people wear one.
Many find adapting to a hearing aid difficult. Signia hearing aids and their ilk feature advanced digital technology. Adjusting to life with a hearing aid takes time as the wearer is getting used to the new sensory information and the brain learns to fully process it as sound. While you owe it to your partner to help them get treatment, you and they should keep expectations realistic to avoid further frustration.
Avoid Isolation
Hearing loss can isolate. Imagine living underwater and struggling to communicate. Your partner may become quieter and more withdrawn as their hearing deteriorates. You may also notice that they’re sadder and sullen but unwilling to discuss it. As a vital part of their support network, it’s up to you to help them mitigate the effects of their hearing loss on their mental health and encourage them to seek treatment for both conditions.
Communicate Well
Many couples shout up and down stairs, through walls, and from different rooms. You and your partner can’t do this. Ensure clear, face-to-face communication. This helps your partner hear what you’re saying and pick up on body language and facial expression, which make up 93% of communication. Have a look at some hearing loss communication tips to help.
By putting the right structure in place, you and your partner can ensure a loving, supportive relationship and overcome their hearing problem together.
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