Hearing loss is a problem that affects millions of people. Crowded restaurants, bars, and other places with a lot of background noise can make it even more difficult to hear. Even communicating in your home with television playing can be frustrating.
While there’s no cure for hearing loss, hearing aids can greatly improve the clarity of voices and ambient sounds. They can allow you to hear better no matter where you go.
Hearing Loss Can Affect Many Aspects of Your Life
Unfortunately, hearing loss affects more than just your ability to hear sounds. It can make carrying on a simple conversation frustrating, and confusing. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) reports that nearly one third of people 65 years and older suffer from hearing loss. After the age of 75, the figure jumps to over half.
In addition to communication, hearing loss can affect you physically and mentally. Many people with hearing loss unconsciously isolate themselves from their social groups, which leads to depression, and other mental health problems. In addition, hearing loss can affect their job performance or strip them completely of their ability to continue working.
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is a side effect that often comes with hearing loss. Tinnitus can affect the ability to sleep, which results in exhaustion or constant fatigue. Lack of sleep is another cause of depression. Not to mention the serious health issues that come from not getting enough rest.
4 Ways How Improving Your Hearing Can Change Your Social Life
However, hearing loss doesn’t have to be grim. With proper techniques and patience, a person with hearing loss can remain socially active. Improving your hearing can have a positive effect on your social life. Here’s how:
1. Stay connected to friends and family.
Hearing loss can be an isolating and lonely experience. So as not to be a burden, people with hearing loss often push away those closest to them, such as friends or family. Resist the urge to close yourself off from your loved ones.
2. Better in communication with less frustration.
Communicating with someone with hearing loss is frustrating on both sides. The person with hearing loss can feel embarrassed asking someone to repeat themselves and just give up trying to communicate. Being upfront about your hearing loss and clear about your needs can help reduce the frustration. For example, tell people that they need to speak while facing you or speak louder.
3. Enjoy sound-centric activities.
Going with a group to places with a lot of noise, such as concerts and restaurants, can be difficult for a person with hearing loss. The background noise can completely drown out the conversation. However, hearing aids can help your brain identify the noises and respond accordingly.
4. More participation in social events.
Parties are not fun for someone who suffers from hearing loss. It can be difficult to follow the conversation, especially if more than one person is speaking at once. Improving your hearing with a hearing aid allows you to participate in social events.
Hearing Loss Doesn’t Have to Rob You of Your Relationships
People without hearing loss aren’t always sure how to best communicate with someone with hearing loss. Conversely, the person with hearing loss doesn’t want to ‘bother’ the other person by asking them to repeat things. As a result, neither side tries to engage in a conversation.
Improving your hearing can put yourself and others at ease and help the conversation flow freely.
