Better Hearing Means Better Relationships
What is “quality of life?” It is a term that we all likely come across all the time and probably use ourselves without thinking much of it. But it is a broad and deep concept and one that is highly dependent on cultural expectations and norms. At a very basic level, someone in a developing country may find it a great accomplishment to be able to achieve the same career as their parents. Someone that is the same age in the U.S. might likely feel a failure if they can not figure out some manner in which to surpass the achievements of their parents. The subconscious cultural notions of progress and achievement permeate us all to the very core, impacting how we situate our sense of self in the world.
We can recognize and name the standards essential to measuring quality of life, housing, employment, health, work-life balance, and so on. But the measurement of quality of life is so subjective, it is practically impossible for someone to have an opinion on someone else’s quality of life without entering a tangle of potentially condescending and unfair assumptions.
But whatever the culture, whatever the socio-economic standing or demographic, one aspect of this that we can generalize about is that relationships are fundamental to achieving a good quality of life. And relationships, at their very core, depend on good communication. Good communication will not guarantee a good relationship, but bad communication will guarantee a bad relationship.
The Seriousness of Hearing Loss
It is perfectly normal for most people to prefer being alone sometimes. It is relaxing and rejuvenating, and it offers a chance for necessary reflection. But hearing loss leads to social isolation. And hearing loss leads to loneliness. These are much different than this normal preference for being alone sometimes. And they are different from each other, too. Social isolation is objective: you do not have social contact. Loneliness is subjective: you feel isolated whether or not you are socially connected.
Every type of relationship essential to every dimension of living a satisfying quality of life depends on communication, and therefore good hearing health: Social, professional, familial, romantic.
When you have difficulties following what people are saying, it becomes fatiguing. Asking someone to repeat themselves over and over throws off the natural rhythms of conversation and makes things feel stilted and overly formal. This creates a sense of distance. and of course missing the precise meaning of what someone is sharing with you limits the depth to which you can connect.
People that feel socially isolated often avoid the same plans and people that they had previously enjoyed. They cancel plans and feel relief when plans get canceled. But this self-imposed solitude, even when it is subconscious, quickly transforms into emotional isolation, the inability and unwillingness to share your feelings with others.
Research has proven that socially isolated people suffer from anxiety and low self-esteem, which cause a multitude of compounding health conditions, including sleeplessness. And sleeplessness damages your immune system, cardiovascular health and cognitive functions.
You Have Control to Improve Your Relationships
All of this risk can be easily prevented just by being aware of the symptoms of hearing loss. It may be surprising but hearing loss comes on so incredibly gradually that people most often do not even realize that it is happening to them.
Commit to taking hearing loss with the seriousness it deserves as soon as it is detectable. The immediate benefits include enjoying the company of others again in both private and in social situations. Consider how significantly timing impacts humor and how trouble hearing throws off the timing of every conversation. Then consider how essential to quality of life laughter is.
Your improved sense of hearing will improve your professional opportunities and simplify every aspect of your day to day. Becoming socially connected again will even improve your alone time: The deep and simple feelings that come from listening to your favorite music; The improved capacity to participate in your faith community.
However you find satisfaction by yourself, it begins with your ability to communicate simply with others. Don’t let the common problem of hearing loss negatively impact one more day of your potential satisfaction. Make an appointment with one of our specialists today.
