This story is from several years ago, but it still rings true today. It was a weekend that my mom and her sister were at our house for dinner. My mom was talking about her experience using hearing aids to her inquiring sister. Her sister was noticing hearing loss and was trying to get a sense from my mom of what it would be like to use hearing aids. I stood chopping veggies in the kitchen overhearing this conversation with keen interest and it was a simple statement that my mom made that gave me pause.
This is what she said….. “Wearing my hearing aids is a gift I give to the people who I am with.”
I found this interesting because many times in the clinic I hear people with unaided hearing loss tell me, “It’s not a problem for me, but my spouse would say otherwise.”
Hearing aids are an act of love
Using hearing aids is an act of love to the people around you. Why? Because taking steps to improve communication in a relationship is an act of kindness to the ones you love.
To show them that what they have to say is meaningful.
To be able to participate in conversations.
To communicate clearly with less effort.
Good communication can be a love language
Have you ever heard of the 5 Love Languages? (There’s a quiz you can take to find out which is yours.)
These are different ways that we each give and express love. They are:
- Words of Affirmation
- Acts of Service
- Receiving Gifts
- Quality Time
- Physical Touch
Think about how hearing plays into being able to give and receive love: the ability to hear words of affirmation, being able to enjoy quality time together. Hearing also is part of touch because couples who communicate better are also often closer physically.
Communication is a two-way street
So this Valentine’s day, you can give flowers or take efforts to improve communication by accepting that if one person in a relationship is expressing a problem then it is not just her/his problem, it is a communication problem which by definition is a two-way street.
Or, best case scenario, you can do both. Happy Valentine’s Day!
If you’re ready to improve your communication, please book hearing evaluation or call us at the Broadmead Hearing Clinic: 250-479-2926 or Oak Bay Hearing Clinic: 250-479-2921.
Photo by Ryan O’Niel, Unsplash.