News

Love, Marriage & Hearing Loss

Mon, 12 Oct 2009

 Love, Marriage and Hearing Loss:

Listen to this, Darling

Ask any happy couple what are the secrets to a successful marriage, and chances are that “communication” will be on the list.
That’s because communication allows both partners to convey their thoughts and emotions to each other – a very important aspect of a healthy marriage. Take away this ability to talk, hear, and respond and the relationship is bound to crumble.
Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t always. If one (or both) partners have untreated hearing loss (choosing not to wear hearing aids), the notion of communicating loud and clear bites the dust. And, this happens more often than you think.
Alarming statistics re: hearing loss and marriage
A recently released British study demonstrates that relationships are failing because of unmanaged hearing loss. The survey, of 1,500 hearing-impaired people over 55 revealed that:
  • Almost one in two (44% of people) said that relationships with their partner, friends or family had suffered because they can't hear properly.
  • A third (34%) have lost touch with friends, and in some cases seen marriages fall apart, as a direct result of the breakdown in communication caused by hearing loss.
  • Two thirds (69%) said their hearing loss seriously hinders their ability to take part in everyday conversations with friends and family, causing 52% of those surveyed to feel left out and ignored in social situations.
  • Women (72%) were found to be more affected by social exclusion because of hearing loss than men.
  • Almost half (49%) said that losing their hearing is the worst thing about growing old.
Marriages in peril
More than half (57%) feel their spouse is reluctant to get a hearing check, and 46% believe that denial is the main reason.
Even more respondents (65%) indicated they feel annoyed when their significant other cannot hear them.
Interestingly enough, although 45% indicated that their spouse doesn't appear to hear chore requests, 78% are sure the hard-of-hearing partner can hear them fix a snack just fine!
Talk about selective hearing loss!
Hear and be heard
Let us guess: you think a hearing aid is unsightly? Not so – new open-fit hearing aids are sleek, tiny and allow natural sounding amplification with greatly improved control of background noise.
Or perhaps you feel that the cost of hearing aids – ranging from $1,500 to $6,000 per hearing aid – is prohibitive? That is a valid concern, but if you calculate the initial price of a hearing aid over the three to five years an average device lasts, you come up with a totally affordable $3 a day. And if you are a pensioner and can’t afford that, the Australian government will provide you with basic hearing aids completely free.
And then there is denial. The “I can hear just fine” argument can only go so far when it is obvious that you have to strain to hear a conversation. Denial is a powerful deterrent, and you should never give in to it, especially when your health and relationships are concerned.
So now you know that there is no reason why you should not use hearing aids, and plenty of reasons why you should. Hearing Rehabilitation Specialist Graham Weir, who has worn hearing aids for most of his life and runs a clinic at 282 Pinjarra Road, says a happy marriage, good quality of life, and hearing aids do go hand in hand! Appointments to see Graham in Mandurah can be made on 9586 3244. He also runs a clinic at Palm Springs Medical Centre, 2 Halliburton Ave Warnbro. (Appointments: 9593 2033)