I mentioned this a few blogs ago: Earplugs now or hearing aids later! I’ll add to that: Earplugs now or divorce later? Studies show that marriages are negatively affected by hearing loss. Though there may be times you wish you couldn’t hear your spouse, consider how important communication truly is in a marriage.

Many marital problems have everything to do with a lack of communication between spouses. Feelings of resentment might build when emotions are held back. Frustration may build when one spouse feels the other is ignoring requests. So, when communication is thwarted with an actual physical inability to hear the other person, you can imagine how much this augments the situation.

Often times, a person experiencing hearing loss is in denial about the issue. They blame the other person for “mumbling” or speaking too quietly. They might claim that the other person never told them something when in reality they actually did. “You never told me to go to the bank!”

In addition, hearing loss can be irritating and frustrating for the spouse who isn’t experiencing hearing loss. They might have to repeat themselves frequently or yell to be heard. This might bring feelings of embarrassment in public. The person who is experiencing hearing loss may feel badly, leading to a lowered sense of self-esteem.

If you or your spouse is experiencing hearing loss, you should see and audiologist and find out what you can do to prevent any further damage and to inquire about hearing aids. They are not as noticeable as they were in years past, and really, the minor annoyance or mild embarrassment of wearing hearing aids is nothing compared to the crumbling of a relationship for issues that need not be.

For those who aren’t experiencing any hearing loss problems a this time, why not keep it that way? Earplugs are inexpensive and easy to use. Many common situations can cause hearing damage if you do not protect your ears. At a mere 85 decibels, hearing damage can occur with repeated or daily exposure. With over 40% of adults over 50 in the U.K. affected by some degree of hearing loss, wearing earplugs now to protect your hearing is very important.

Here are some suggestions on how you can prevent hearing damage:

1. Wear foam earplugs while mowing the lawn, using a leaf blower or any sort of power equipment.
2. Use reusable musician’s earplugs when attending concerts or clubbing. If you work at a music venue, make sure you wear musician’s earplugs and consider custom musician’s earplugs if you are a professional D.J. or musician.
3. Wear shooter’s earplugs when hunting or shooting targets.
4. Turn the volume down on your children’s noisy toys. If there is no volume control on the toy, chances are it does not meet safety requirements and you should contact the manufacturer.
5. When listening to personal music devices, keep the volume at a level where you could still hear someone if they spoke to you. You can purchase custom earphones designed to “perfect” the quality of the music while blocking dangerous decibels.
6. If you work in a noisy atmosphere, make sure your employer supplies the correct level of hearing protection.

Protect your hearing now to prevent relationship troubles in the future!

Cheers!

Meghan