Forget the chocolates and roses; Hearing Australia suggests the gift of communication might be the best Valentine’s Day present for your partner if they have hearing loss.
While hearing aids might be an unusual present, Hearing Australia is urging couples to consider the gift that strengthens relationships and seek help for hearing loss.
The comments follow its new research which found that refusal to seek help for hearing loss is causing tension in a-third of Australian households where one partner has impaired hearing.
The survey found one-third of people whose partners have hearing loss said it made communication difficult, sometimes leading to frustration, misunderstanding and even conflict.
“Communication is the foundation of any healthy relationship. When one partner struggles to hear, small but meaningful interactions can be lost, leading to frustration on both sides,” said the organisation’s principal audiologist Ms Karen Hirschausen.
In September 2024, Hearing Australia commissioned Antenna independent consumer research agency to conduct the online AntennaPoll survey of 1,012 Australians.
Key findings include:
- One-third of Australians whose partners have hearing loss said their partner’s refusal to seek help causes tension.
- One in three people with a partner who has hearing loss reported feeling frustrated.
- One in eight said their partner’s mishearing often causes arguments.
- 43% of respondents said they would be open to a relationship with someone who wears hearing aids.
- 86% of respondents think hearing aids would have a significant impact on their quality of life if they had hearing problems.
Hirschausen said: “If one partner can’t hear well and misunderstands what is being said, it will cause a breakdown in communication.
“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 distress..
“Taking action can help improve personal relationships as well as broader workplace and social engagement.”
When hearing loss is left unaddressed, it also increases the likelihood of poorer physical, psychological and social wellbeing in the hearing partner, she added.
“Often, both those with hearing loss and their partners withdraw from social settings and events because communication becomes difficult,” she said. “It can also lead to people distancing themselves from their partners.”
Hirschausen said addressing the issue was critical and family members could play a vital role.
“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,” she said.
“Hearing aids improve communication and help overcome the challenges of hearing loss.”
Hearing Australia client, Daryl, 73, from Newcastle, NSW, said there were signs he was struggling to hear including turning up the TV and not always hearing his wife Christine, especially when she was speaking to him from another room, which she found frustrating, and constantly asking her to repeat herself.
“I assumed my hearing was fine,” he said. “But it created real communication barriers and frustration for both of us.”
It wasn’t until he had a hearing assessment and was fitted with hearing aids in October 2024 that he realised all the sounds he was missing.
“Since getting hearing aids, our conversations have become more natural and easier, it’s made a world of difference,” he said.
“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.”
He said his hearing aids come with great features and there are four main modes he uses:
- Noise reduction which is perfect for noisy places like an RSL club, helping him tune out the background and focus on conversations.
- Music mode which makes music sound better and more enjoyable.
- Outdoor (park noise) which is great for when he is outside and needs to handle changing sounds in open spaces and parks.
- All-around mode which works well for everyday situations.
Mr Kim Terrell, Hearing Australia’s managing director said: “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.”
