If you are on the path to getting new hearing aids, congratulations! These devices will improve your life in many ways, not the least in your enjoyment of the sounds you have been missing for so long. Of course, hearing aids make it possible to hear what others have to say in conversations, which many consider to be the most important benefit of wearing your aids. In addition to this functional benefit, did you know that hearing aids can also help you build stronger relationships? When you have assistance with your hearing, you will be better able to understand your family members, friends, and acquaintances in your community, and communication is the baseline of healthy relationships. Let’s take a closer look at how hearing aids can help you build and maintain strong relationships and perhaps even repair the relationship problems that have come about as a result of hearing loss.
Active Listening
When you are in a conversation with someone you care about, it’s not enough to passively hear what they have to say. In fact, what they have to say is just one part of the communication process. When you are actively listening to this person, you can pick up on all kinds of other communicative information, including tone of voice, word choice, connotations of language, gestures, facial expressions, and body language. This complex web of meaning requires all your sensory faculties, and being able to clearly hear what the person says is important to understanding what they really mean. When you have hearing loss, it can be difficult to catch the context of this communication, and you might even be missing out on many of the words that are said. If you are missing out on so much in a conversation, you are likely missing out on the opportunity to understand your loved one and to respond in kind.
Communication and Disclosure
We use verbal communication to disclose what is most important to us, and that ability to share our innermost feelings, thoughts, and hopes is what forms a bond of trust with others. When someone tells you how they feel, they are not only giving you information. That disclosure is a way to show that the person trusts you enough to share. When you hear what they say and respond with a question or affirming word, you are showing that they are wise to trust you. However, if you aren’t able to hear what that person says, it can lead to a breakdown in the relationship. Failing to understand that communication can build a wall between you and those who are in your family or even with close friends. Disclosing our deepest feelings is a bid for trust and connection, so don’t let hearing ability get in the way of that connection. When you have hearing aids, you will be able to understand what others have to say and respond in a way that shows you care.
Casual Conversation
In addition to the disclosure of deep emotions and thoughts, our casual conversations are also an important way to build trust with others. When we make basic commentary, share opinions, or make little jokes, we are demonstrating a foundation of presence in the relationship. Simply knowing that someone is there for you is a crucial part of your relationship, and casual conversation is a big part of that reminder of another person’s presence. Though you might not be communicating deeply held feelings and thoughts, you are using casual conversation as a constant reminder that you are not alone. Hearing loss can get in the way of these little comments and jokes, particularly when they come from another room or when a person is not looking in the right direction, but hearing aids can repair that communication indeed.
If you are on the path to getting new hearing aids, you can look forward to these many benefits for your relationships! However, if you have not yet taken the step to schedule a hearing test, the time is now to take the step. Not only will you be better able to navigate the world around you, but you will be able to promote stronger relationships with your family, friends, and community, as well!