Relationship experts and couples counselors agree that communication is a key to healthy relationships. Did you know that this principle doesn’t only apply to a romantic partnership? Of course, your relationship with your spouse or partner can thrive when you develop a free flow of communication that moves in both directions, but your other relationships also benefit from the clear communication of expectations, desires, and feelings. If you are in a business relationship, you will be able to prevent confusion and mixed expectations by clearly making them known. Even your friendships can be strengthened by communicating how you feel rather than hiding your emotions. How can you best improve communication in these many different contexts? Relationship experts have a wide range of advice for developing communication, but one thing is clear. Untreated hearing loss can get in the way of good verbal communication. On the contrary, getting treatment through hearing aids can improve your relationships through a free flow of communication. Let’s take a closer look at what you can do to improve your communication and relationships through better hearing.
Establishing Clear Expectations
Much of the conflict we experience in our relationships can be attributed to unclear expectations. Sometimes we want something from another person in a relationship that we haven’t clearly put into words. This background expectation can become a problem when the other person falls short on meeting what we need. Of course, just communicating an expectation is not enough for that need to be met, but making it clear is the first step toward building a strong bond of trust. When hearing loss gets in the way of healthy communication, these unclear expectations can become a barrier in any relationship. Expectations can be deep and abstract, such as expecting to be shown affection, or they can be direct and tangible, such as expecting a person to unload the clean dishes from the dishwasher. In both cases, a verbal communication is a simple way to make this expectation clear, but untreated hearing loss can get in the way. Treatment is a great way to make sure you are hearing what others in your life expect from you, giving you an opportunity to meet those needs.
Expressing Deep Feelings
One of the most important parts of a relationship is the opportunity to express our feelings and to hear what others have to express, as well. When we keep our emotions bottled up, they can take a toll not only on our relationships but also our mental and physical health. Some emotions are best communicated in our closest relationships, such as a romantic partner, family member, or close friend. However, communicating basic emotions such as gratitude or disappointment can build healthy bonds in community, professional, and casual relationships, as well. Verbal communication is an important way to disclose our emotions, and getting treatment for hearing loss makes it possible to have these conversations with ease. Alleviating the confusion between you and another person builds a bridge of emotional closeness and trust.
Enthusiastically Communicating Appreciation
No matter the relationship in question, appreciation is a key to knowing that you are cared for and valued. When we feel unappreciated by others, we can become uncomfortable or untrusting of the relationship itself. Too many times, we feel internal appreciation for others, but we fail to show that appreciation with our words and actions. Hearing loss can get in the way of this two-way street of appreciation, particularly in those simple everyday comments that form the bedrock of our relationships. Without the ability to hear that others appreciate what we do, we can build up resentment and bitterness. Getting treatment for hearing loss makes it possible to hear these words of affirmation and to take pleasure in the richness that relationships can bring to us. If you are finding one of these elements of a healthy relationship lacking, perhaps untreated hearing loss is the underlying cause. Why not take this opportunity to schedule a hearing test and to see what benefits await your relationships? Once you get the treatment you need, you will find a rich wealth of opportunities to build closeness and trust with others.