While our relationships with our family and significant others are hugely important, sometimes the importance of our friendships can get overlooked. However, close friends can enrich our lives in numerous ways. Research has even shown that engaging in social activities with friends can help buffer some of the negative effects of aging in older adults.
Issues like untreated hearing loss can affect our ability to connect with others, putting a strain on current friendships and making it more difficult to form new ones. The good news is that hearing aids can help make those relationships easier.
Hearing Loss and Communication Struggles
Difficulty understanding speech is one of the first signs of hearing loss. You may find yourself struggling to follow along during a company meeting or missing out on parts of the conversation at the family dinner table.
This can lead to feelings of frustration and loneliness for both you and those closest to you. While spouses and partners often bear the brunt of this strain, all relationships can suffer due to increased miscommunication that comes with hearing loss.
Untreated Hearing Loss Can Lead to Isolation
Because conversations are harder, many people with untreated hearing loss start to withdraw and isolate themselves socially. This could mean skipping out on family gatherings and canceling dinner plans with old friends.
Hearing loss can also stop you from trying things you would otherwise be interested in, like joining a book club or taking an art class where you could meet people with shared hobbies and form new friendships.
Why Hearing Aids Can Help
The best way to stop hearing loss from interfering with your friendships and other close relationships is to seek treatment as soon as you notice that it’s an issue. The first step is to schedule a hearing test with a qualified audiologist. If you have hearing loss, they will discuss your treatment options, the most likely of which is hearing aids.
Hearing aids make it easier for your brain to process speech sounds and converse with others in all sorts of different environments. They help to restore confidence in your communication abilities, whether you’re attending a big birthday bash or just catching up with an old friend over lattes at Standard Coffee Co.
If you’ve been feeling as though hearing loss is making it harder to connect with those you care about, call the experts at Advanced Audiology & Hearing Aids and schedule an appointment today.
