Healthy hearing, healthy relationships
Over one in three Australians say their partner’s hearing loss makes communication difficult, new research1 from Hearing Australia shows.
The impact of hearing loss on communication
With the challenges that hearing loss brings, Hearing Australia says the best 'gift' couples can give each other is addressing the issue and seeking help.
“Communication is key to a healthy relationship,” says Karen Hirschausen, Principal Audiologist with Hearing Australia. “But if one partner can’t hear well and misunderstands what’s being said, it will cause a breakdown in communication.”
Frustration and tension: the emotional toll
The research reveals that over one in three respondents with a partner who has hearing loss report feeling frustrated, while one in eight say it causes tension because their partner refuses to get help. Another one in eight respondents mentioned that their partner’s mishearing often leads to arguments.
“A person’s hearing loss can impact day-to-day communication with family and friends and result in their partner feeling frustration, resentment, embarrassment, and distress2,” adds Karen. “Taking action can help improve personal relationships as well as broader workplace and social engagement.”
Untreated hearing loss and its broader effects
Karen also points out that untreated hearing loss can contribute to poorer physical, psychological, and social wellbeing in the partner3. “Often, both those with hearing loss and their partners withdraw from social settings and events because communication becomes difficult4,” she explains. “It can also lead to people distancing themselves from their partners5.”
Family support: encouraging action
Addressing the issue early is crucial, and family members, particularly partners, play a vital role in helping those with hearing loss seek the necessary support. “. “Families, particularly partners, often play a critical role in making people aware of their hearing loss and urging them to have a hearing assessment. Partners are frequently the first to make the person experiencing hearing loss aware of the issue,” says Karen.
A simple solution: hearing aids
In many cases, a simple solution exists. “Hearing aids improve communication and help overcome the challenges of hearing loss,” explains Karen. “According to our survey, 86 percent of respondents think hearing aids would have a significant impact on their lives if they had hearing problems.”
Real-life impact: Daryl’s story
Hearing Australia client, 73-year-old Daryl from the NSW Hunter region, recalls noticing signs that he was struggling to hear—including miscommunication with his wife, Christine. But it wasn’t until he had a hearing assessment and was fitted with hearing aids that he realised all the sounds he’d been missing.
“There were signs I was struggling to hear, like not always hearing my wife, especially when she was speaking to me from another room, which she found frustrating,” Daryl says.
“Since getting hearing aids, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my hearing in all aspects of my life, and Christine has noticed a difference too. I work in hospitality, which can get quite noisy at times. I also play bowls and enjoy going out. I’m able to adjust my hearing aids based on the environment I’m in. I wear my hearing aids every day; they’ve just become part of me now.”
The importance of seeking help
Kim Terrell, Hearing Australia’s Managing Director, adds: “Hearing loss can be devastating and it’s not something you and your partner just ‘have to live with’. If you have a hearing loss, you need to act. There are many simple and affordable options, and hearing aid technology has evolved massively in recent years. My hearing aids have made a huge difference to me and getting help can be life-changing.”
References:
¹Antenna, an independent consumer research agency on behalf of Hearing Australia, conducted an online AntennaPoll survey of n=1,012 Australians. The survey was conducted between September 5 and 8, 2024. The survey data collection was national, and respondents were sourced using an accredited online research access panel. Data was weighted for representation against the 2021 ABS Census.
2The Hearing Review. ‘Hearing Loss as a Social Problem: A Study of Hearing-impaired Spouses and Their Hearing Partners’. 2019. https://hearingreview.com/hearing-loss/patient-care/hearing-loss-as-a-social-problem. 2. Echalier M. RNID. In it Together: The impact of hearing loss on personal relationships
3’Impact of self-assessed hearing loss on a spouse: a longitudinal analysis of couples’. Margaret I. Wallhagen, William J. Strawbridge, Sarah J. Shema, George A. Kaplan. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, Volume 59, Issue 3, May 2004, pages S190-S196.
4University of Nottingham. "Is your partner's hearing loss driving you mad?." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 October 2017. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171006085924.htm.
5Hallberg, RM and Barrenas M, ‘Living with a male with noise-induced hearing loss: experiences from the perspective of spouses.’ British Journal of Audiology, 1993, 27, pp.255-261.
