We’re learning more and more just how important social connections are to our overall health and happiness. This includes not only your family but your friends as well. Research has shown that engaging in activities with friends increases life satisfaction and can even buffer some of the adverse effects of aging in older adults.
While hearing loss can put a strain on your social relationships, treating your condition with hearing aids can help you stay connected to the people who matter most.
Hearing Loss Makes Social Activity More Difficult
One of the first signs of hearing loss is having an increased difficulty following conversations. It might start off as the occasional misunderstanding. However, as time progresses, hearing loss tends to worsen, and you might notice more and more instances where you mishear what’s being said or need others to repeat themselves.
Over time, this can lead to both frustration and mental fatigue. The fatigue occurs because your brain has to work harder to process speech, making social activities you once enjoyed feel overwhelming. Eventually, untreated hearing loss may lead you to:
- Avoid meeting up with friends for special occasions where there will be lots of background noise, such as a housewarming party or a friend’s birthday dinner at 110 Grill.
- Struggle with phone conversations or video calls, making staying in touch with long-distance friends more difficult.
- Feel reluctant to try new activities like joining a book club or taking an art class where you might form new friendships.
Hearing Aids Help You Connect with Friends
Hearing aids can make socializing easier in many ways. They make speech sound richer and clearer and can amplify speech in louder environments. Many also have the ability to suppress background noise and focus on the voice of the person to whom you are speaking.
These features help reduce mental fatigue and renew confidence in your ability to communicate with others effectively. Not only does this help you stay in touch with the friends you already have, but it is easier to form new connections as well.
If you are concerned about the effects hearing loss is having on your relationships or loved ones have noticed that you have started to isolate due to trouble hearing, call the experts at Massachusetts Hearing Group and schedule an appointment for a hearing test today.