Hearing Loss Leads to Poor Communication

Communication relies on the ability to produce information and also to receive it. Writing, speaking, and body language are the principle ways in which people transmit their thoughts, beliefs, ideas, needs, and opinions to others. Receptive abilities allow individuals to obtain information from the surrounding world, either visually or aurally. If you suffer from hearing problems, you lose part of your ability to communicate.

On any given day, the average person actively seeks out information in addition to being inundated by a range of marketing materials. You might talk to friends in person, over the phone, or be involved in communication in work meetings, over dinner, or on the street. When watching the television, reading the newspaper, or surfing online, commercials and advertising pop up everywhere. If hearing problems reduce your ability to catch every word of a commercial, chances are that you won't miss them. Unfortunately, hearing loss is not selective. In fact, the commercials are usually even easier to hear than the television programming itself. Often it most affects the communication that you value the most – the words you exchange with the people around you.

While it is possible to suffer from sudden hearing loss as a result of an illness or serious medical condition, most cases involve people who lose abilities gradually over time. This is particularly true as you age. Studies have shown that as people get older, up to one third or even half the population loses the ability to pick up on certain sounds. The upper end of the hearing range often goes first and sufferers frequently have trouble distinguishing specific sounds when in an environment with a lot of background noise. This can be extremely frustrating when you are in a restaurant with a group of friends and just want to enjoy the evening. Some people even end social engagements early or avoid them altogether, when they realize that they will not be able to listen to what is happening.

In addition to affecting the individual, hearing problems also have important consequences for the entire family, for friends, and in professional environments. Family members and friends at times notice even before the sufferer realizes that he or she is struggling to tune into conversations. They realize what is happening when the person continually asks them to repeat comments, turn up the volume on the television, or increase the volume of cell phones. It can be frustrating for the people who care to watch a loved one struggle with the challenges of such a condition, especially when there are many steps you can take when you want to recover your aural capacities.

Fortunately for both sufferers and their families, technology has reached the hearing aid industry. It is no longer necessary to remain out of any conversation or avoid social situations. Choices in the marketplace abound, so that it is easy to find something that will help you improve your receptive abilities and communicate with the people around you. You will be able to keep up with any conversation and communication will improve.