Is Hearing Loss Ruining Your Social Life?

Our sense of hearing is often key to communication – and, as a result, losing our hearing can make socializing much more difficult. When you can’t hear what people are saying, it becomes harder to actively join in on conversations. This can lead to social frustration, isolation and depression. 

Fortunately, you don’t have to let hearing loss destroy your social life. This post delves more into the impact of hearing loss on socializing, and how to diagnose and treat hearing loss in order to stay social.

The impact of hearing loss on socializing

Hearing loss can negatively impact socializing in a number of ways. Some of the negative effects include:

Difficulty having conversations

Hearing loss can make it hard to follow conversations – especially in places with lots of background noise. Many people notice the effect at parties and large get-togethers (sometimes known as the ‘cocktail party effect’) in which background noise ends up drowning out what people are saying. You could find yourself missing jokes and punchlines, having to ask people to repeat themselves or misinterpreting questions. All of this can prevent conversations from flowing, and you may find yourself sitting back more often because you simply can’t keep up. 

Hearing fatigue

Some people with hearing loss are able to still follow conversations, but it can be a massive strain. It can often mean having to focus hard on what people are saying and your brain may have to work overtime to fill in gaps in conversation. This can lead to mental fatigue after social events – you could feel physically drained or may experience headaches. Recognizing and managing hearing fatigue is important so that it doesn’t leave you exhausted. Eventually, this exhaustion may cause you to avoid social situations.

Social withdrawal

Both hearing fatigue and difficulty following conversations can both lead to social withdrawal. It can often become too challenging and draining to attend social events. However, this can put a strain on relationships and lead to loneliness and depression. Inability to hear people over the phone can make this isolation even worse – especially for those living alone who are not savvy with instant messaging or social media. If you find yourself avoiding social contact because of hearing loss, it is vital that you seek out support as soon as you can to protect your mental health. 

Diagnosing hearing loss

Inability to follow conversations, hearing fatigue and social withdrawal are all classic symptoms of hearing loss. However, there are many other symptoms to look out for too such as sleeping through alarms, not being able to hear people knock the door, or constantly finding yourself turning up the volume on the TV. 

To get an official diagnosis, it is recommended that you undertake a hearing assessment. Only by getting hearing loss diagnosis can you then explore treatment options. Hearing assessments can be carried out at specialist audiology clinics with the help of a professional. These tests are quick and non-invasive – they involve wearing headphones and in a soundproof booth and responding to tones at various volumes and frequencies. During these assessments, you may also be quizzed about your medical history to determine that no other factors are playing a role such as medication or ear infections. Results are plotted on a chart called an audiogram, which determines the type and extent of your hearing loss.

Separate tests can be carried out to diagnose issues like tinnitus or eardrum issues, which can also cause hearing problems that may inhibit social interaction. 

Treating hearing loss

Sadly, there is no cure for hearing loss. However, there are definitely ways to manage hearing loss and restore some hearing. The most common treatment is to get a hearing aid fitted. These devices can help to amplify frequencies that have become muffled so that you can hear clearly once again.

You can buy hearing aids in many different styles nowadays – including behind-the-ear devices, in-ear devices and in-the-canal devices (most people won’t even notice you are wearing these hearing aids). An audiologist can help you to find the right device based on the level of hearing loss you are encountering. It’s important that your hearing loss is comfortable and that there are no gaps that could cause it to fall out or lead to feedback. Custom-fitted devices can be molded to the shape of your ear and are often the most comfy and effective options. 

Hearing aids are excellent for helping you to hear clearly in many social situations, but there may still be some interactions where other solutions are better suited. For example, when using a phone with hearing loss, some people may prefer to use an amplified phone, or use their speakerphone setting with additional captioning settings turned on. Phones can be linked up with hearing aids to deliver the caller’s voice directly through the hearing aid, but issues like feedback can still make phone conversations hard for some people. 

Staying social with hearing loss

Staying social with hearing loss requires a bit of perseverance. Conversations will be hard, yes, but you could miss out on many great experiences by not attending social events. 

When arranging social events, thinking carefully about the setting can make a difference. Noisy public spaces like busy restaurants and malls might be best avoided. Instead, consider quieter spaces like parks, or visit cafes and restaurants during quieter hours. Meeting up at each others’ homes is also a great way to control noise levels – particularly your own home where you have more control over things like the TV volume or music volume.

Parties and large get-togethers tend to be the most challenging social interactions. Try to take breaks during these events to avoid fatigue or ask to talk with people one-on-one outside or in quiet areas if you are having trouble hearing them. Don’t be afraid to tell strangers that you have hearing loss and don’t be afraid to ask people to repeat things either – this will encourage people to work with you in conversations so that you’re not straining so much. 

For profound hearing loss, it could be worth learning sign language and encouraging close family members to do the same. This could be easier than trying to communicate verbally, but does require learning all the different signs, which takes patience and commitment.