Hearing loss is an incredibly common condition, especially among older individuals. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), 13% of people in the United States 12 years or older have hearing loss in both ears.
If you have recently been diagnosed, you may be wondering how hearing loss could affect your dating life, as well as how to talk about it with potential future partners.
Let’s examine a few ways to make dating easier when you have hearing loss.
Helpful Tips for Dating When You Have Hearing Loss
- Wear your hearing aids. Hearing aids make it easier for your brain to process speech and communicate with others. Since communication is essential to forming new connections with others, wearing your hearing aids while out on a date is the best way to make sure your hearing loss doesn’t hold you back from meeting new people.
- Choose your location wisely. When suggesting spots for potential dates, consider how easy it will be to hear at that location. Even with hearing aids or other assistive listening devices, a crowded bar or loud sporting event might not be the easiest place to have a quality conversation. Instead, opt for quiet coffee shops, cafés or even a picnic for two at West Austin Neighborhood Park.
- Be open about your hearing loss. You may feel slightly embarrassed talking about your hearing loss, but there is no need! Being honest about why quieter venues are better or why you might need them to repeat themselves sometimes will make it less stressful for both of you and make it easier to communicate effectively.
- Discuss communication strategies. Telling them about your hearing loss also offers you an opportunity to let them know about effective communication strategies that make it easier for you to hear, like making sure they are facing you and not covering their mouths when you are having a conversation.
- Use closed captioning on movie nights. Watching TV can be harder with hearing loss but using features like closed captioning can help ensure you are able to follow along without having to turn the volume up to levels that may be uncomfortably loud for your date. Additionally, if your hearing aids are equipped with Bluetooth®, you may be able to stream the audio directly into your hearing aids!
When To Get a Hearing Test
Hearing loss can sneak up on you gradually. If you are at all concerned about your hearing or have noticed that you need people to speak up or repeat themselves more frequently than you used to, schedule an appointment for a hearing test.
If the results indicate you have hearing loss, your audiologist will work with you to find a pair of hearing aids that meet your needs and makes everything, including first dates, much less stressful.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Victory Hearing & Balance today.