Hearing loss can negatively impact your life in many ways. Left untreated, it can lead to:
- Feelings of anxiety, anger and depression
- Greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia
- Balance issues and increased risk of falls
- Difficulty concentrating
- Social isolation
- Strained relationships
One of the biggest consequences of hearing loss is how it impacts your ability to relate to loved ones. Thankfully, treating your hearing loss with hearing aids helps improve your connections with others.
Why Hearing Loss Takes a Toll on Relationships 
Untreated hearing loss makes it harder to communicate. It does this by making it difficult to comprehend speech and sound. This often leads to miscommunication or having to frequently ask the person you are speaking with to repeat themselves.
Additionally, people with hearing loss may begin to socially isolate or rely on their spouse or partner to act as their ears in social situations. This can lead to frustration and resentment on both sides.
The University of Nottingham published a study that looked at complaints made by people with hearing loss and their loved ones. They found that spouses in particular were negatively affected.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Venessa Vas, lead author of the study, is quoted as saying “We found that hearing loss impacted people’s social relationships in all facets of their life. Oftentimes, both parties became depressed and socially withdrawn.”
Hearing Aids Improve Connection
Hearing aids amplify the sounds you want to hear, including the voices of others. Regularly using your device can increase your confidence in your ability to communicate. They also reduce the burden placed on your loved ones to repeat themselves or translate conversations for you.
Hearing aids can help:
- Reduce miscommunication
- Ease tension with loved ones
- Improve the quality of conversations you are able to have
- Let you enjoy a night out with friends or a dinner date with your spouse at one of Topeka’s best restaurants
- Keep your relationships strong with the people that matter most
Your connection with others is one of the most important parts of life. If you are worried that hearing loss is negatively impacting your relationships, schedule an appointment with Topeka ENT for a hearing test today.