Effects of Hearing Loss on Your Spouse

Millions of Americans have some degree of hearing loss, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America. If you are one of the millions who have a hearing impairment, your hearing loss may also be affecting your relationships, too. We asked the experts about the effects of hearing loss on your spouse.

Hearing Loss and Your Relationships

“Hearing loss can put additional strain on interpersonal relationships, including marriages,” Kevin Seitz-Paquette, AuD, Director of the Phonak Audiology Research Center at SonovaGroup, tells ishonest Connect to Care.

Communication is important when maintaining a healthy relationship, and hearing loss can have negative effects on communication.

Seitz-Paquette notes that a person with hearing loss could miss the spoken remarks of their spouse—especially if those remarks are spoken softly or unexpectedly. Even though these instances of misunderstanding are not rooted in ill intent, research indicates that they can be interpreted as a lack of interest or attention, according to Seitz-Paquette.

Your spouse may be the first person to notice these communication problems. “Since hearing loss is considered the invisible disease, it's usually the family and friends who notice the patients' hearing loss first,” Amit Gosalia, AuD at West Valley Hearing Center, tells ishonest Connect to Care.

Signs of hearing loss can include:

• Asking people to talk slower or louder
• Having trouble distinguishing different sounds
• Choosing to avoid conversations due to hearing struggles

There are also emotional effects of hearing loss that can affect both you and your relationships. Since people with hearing loss may struggle with conversations, they may intentionally avoid them, which can lead to feelings of isolation and depression, according to Mayo Clinic.

The effects of hearing loss can be seen in work relationships as well. Adults with hearing loss are more likely to be unemployed, and those who are employed are often in lower-level jobs compared to those without hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization.

It’s important to remember that hearing loss technology has evolved dramatically in recent years, with features such as:

• Smaller and more discreet hearing aids
• Health and wellness monitors in hearing aids
• Surgical solutions such as cochlear implants

These advanced and accessible treatments for hearing loss could help you improve your hearing as well as your relationships.

Hearing Loss Can Be Managed and Treated.

The earlier you address the symptoms of hearing loss, the more likely you are to avoid irreversible damage. Get the answers you need to start treatment today.

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