{"id":906,"date":"2019-04-26T16:58:24","date_gmt":"2019-04-26T21:58:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hearinghealthcenters.net\/?p=906"},"modified":"2019-04-26T16:58:24","modified_gmt":"2019-04-26T21:58:24","slug":"how-hearing-loss-impacts-relationships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nelsonhearing.com\/how-hearing-loss-impacts-relationships\/","title":{"rendered":"How Hearing Loss Impacts Relationships"},"content":{"rendered":"

People with hearing loss<\/a> often feel isolated and alone, believing they are the only ones affected by their impairment. While it\u2019s natural to feel overwhelmed, your impairment has an impact on many others close to you. Relationships with family and friends are almost always affected \u2013 and rarely in a positive manner.<\/p>\n

Consequences of Untreated Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n

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There are an estimated 48 million Americans experiencing hearing loss. Unfortunately, only 1 in 4 people who would benefit from hearing aids<\/a> actually wears them. There are numerous risks associated with untreated hearing loss, from the physical and psychological to social. For the 75 percent of individuals who haven\u2019t sought treatment for their hearing loss, those risks include strained personal relationships.<\/p>\n

Think about it: communication is the cornerstone of a healthy relationship. When a hearing loss prevents you from communicating effectively, those little bumps in the road that affect every relationship from time to time are going to be magnified. It\u2019s like a domino effect; poor communication leads to frustration and resentment, which creates a further breakdown in communication and a lack of intimacy that affects both partners.<\/p>\n

A 2009 British study<\/a>\u00a0illustrates these effects. Of 1,500 people with hearing loss surveyed, 44 percent reported that hearing loss had caused relationships with a spouse, family member or friend to suffer. 34 percent of respondents blamed hearing loss and the resulting communication difficulties for the disintegration of a relationship.<\/p>\n

Marriage is often the relationship that suffers most deeply. A\u00a02007 survey<\/a>\u00a0published in the ASHA Leader found that 35 percent of respondents said the relationship with their spouse was the one most likely to suffer the negative consequences of hearing loss. Granted, there were a few positives; many hearing-impaired individuals enjoyed the emotional support provided by their partners. Unfortunately, even the most caring spouses have a hard time understanding the full effects of hearing loss. There\u2019s a popular phrase that goes, \u201cDon\u2019t judge a man until you\u2019ve walked a mile in his shoes.\u201d Significant others take heed: don\u2019t judge a man (or woman) until you\u2019ve lived with the daily challenges brought about by their hearing loss.<\/p>\n

The poor communication associated with hearing loss has a snowball effect, causing tension in the relationship and leading to negative emotions such as:<\/p>\n