Close Relationships and Hearing Loss

Of the millions of people worldwide burdened with hearing loss, many do not seek treatment. Yet, when one member of a family has a hearing problem, it affects the entire family. It changes lifestyles and the quality of life.

A major complaint among couples and families, without regard to hearing loss, is the breakdown of communication. Families find it increasingly more difficult to talk with one another for a myriad of reasons. Hearing loss only further exacerbates this problem.

The inability to properly communicate with a spouse, family member or friend places incredible strain on relationships. Not only do misunderstandings occur, but often people become annoyed and even angry. These issues compound the communication problem and further stress relationships.

Persons with hearing loss can become depressed and feel isolated from those they care about. It’s difficult for them to be involved in sharing important things that families and loved ones share, because they can’t hear what’s being said. Couples and families need to be able to communicate with one another during the most important occasions of their lives. Yet, a hearing loss impedes this. For example, during a funeral or wedding, families need to be able to express their feelings with one another. However, it’s not feasible to speak above a whisper during those events.

Many insurance companies do cover the cost of hearing aids. Many people are not aware of this until they have a need and inquire about it. If your insurance plans cover eye glasses and some dental services, it would seem realistic that hearing aids would be covered as well. Perhaps when more people become informed of this, purchasing a hearing aid will be just like purchasing a pair of glasses.

Some individuals with a high frequency hearing loss believed a hearing aid could not help them. It’s true that at one time, high frequency hearing loss could be difficult to improve with a hearing aid. Such is not the case today. Great technological strides have been made in this field, making it possible to program hearing aids to fit a patient’s loss.

The quality of a person’s life is often associated with relationships, especially with loved ones and friends. No one wants to feel alone. Being able to understand and communicate with loved ones is critical to keeping and cultivating healthy relationships.

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