Hearing loss challenges not only the person who has the impairment, but it also influences friends, family, and co-workers. Leaving a potential hearing loss untreated increases the threat of adding severe and unnecessary hardships to most everyone around you, particularly those you love the most.

The Center for Hearing and Communication reports the following statistics:

• Over 48 million US residents have hearing loss
• One out of four people who need hearing aids, fail to wear them
• 75 percent of people with hearing loss are risking adverse relationship impacts
• Out of 1,500 people with hearing loss, 44 percent admit their relationships have suffered
• 34 percent have lost relationships and marriages

It would be such a shame to lose any relationship, including a romantic one, when help is just a phone call away.

Harmful Relationship Impacts

Sometimes communicating with a partner is challenging enough for couples that have not been through a hearing loss. Using the correct words and the right tone are so important, as is the “mood” of your significant other. If they had a stressful day or have a concern on their minds, they may not be fully engaged in a conversation. Hearing loss adds to everyday difficulties and result in the following relationship trials for both partners:

• Resentment
• Loneliness
• Decrease or elimination of intimate chat or joking around
• Frustration
• Being withdrawn from friends, family, and social interactions
• Loss of companionship
• Keeping words to a minimum resulting in more communication issues

And all too often, things that we take for granted just aren’t as easy as they once were. One partner even stated that her husband’s hearing impairment prevented them from watching television together because he needed the volume so high she just could not bear it.

You don’t have to be old to have a hearing loss! And even if you are considered a “senior citizen,” you are part of the baby boomer generation, and we’re changing the entire look and feel of adding a few years to our lives. Think about your parents at your age. What were they doing? Potentially not many of the exciting things you continue to enjoy at any age. It could be genetics that contributed to your hearing loss, so please don’t let any of these things happen in your life. We have a solution.

The Answer

An annual visit to your audiologist just like your eye doctor is suggested. Audiologists earn a master’s degree, and many attain a Doctor of Audiology. They are highly skilled at performing a variety of tests to assess, diagnose, treat and manage hearing issues including balance disorders and tinnitus.

Let’s talk about what to expect if this is your first visit to this hearing expert.

• The team will gather the same history as every other doctor in the world, ask about your current medications, and your symptoms
• It’s great to take a friend or family member with you, they can help take notes, and some doctors may want to perform a test using a voice that is familiar to you
• The tests are not painful
  • Otoscopy – is just a peek into your ears with this penlight that magnifies your ear contents
  • Tympanometry is a test of your middle ear; you may feel very light pressure on your ear, it’s minimal discomfort
  • Audiometry will assess bone and air conduction. You will just be inside a sound proof space and will follow the doctor’s instruction
  • One on one time with your audiologist where he or she will share results and possible remediation

With today’s perpetual technological advances, you can prevent any adverse impact on your relationships. If you are experiencing any of the challenges we’ve mentioned here, please visit our office and get back to enjoying connections with the people who matter most to you.