Hearing is a vital piece of communication and socialization, so it makes sense that hearing loss has a massive impact on communication and relationships. If you’ve been living with hearing loss, you may have noticed the toll it takes on your ability to communicate well; perhaps you’ve even modified your own behavior in social settings as a result. This could be a sign of decreased social confidence.
The Impact of Decreased Social Confidence
Social connection has a bigger impact on us than just filling our social calendar; it’s an integral part of physical, mental and emotional well-being. Being a part of a community, having a strong support system and participating in social activities all boost our confidence. Conversely, when we’re deprived of these things, we’ll feel less confident.
Signs of Decreased Social Confidence
Hearing loss can make you feel disconnected from your friends and loved ones, in turn affecting your feelings of connection and confidence. Here are some signs that may be happening.
- You stop saying “what?” Some people with hearing loss have been known to joke that their favorite word is “what?”, since they frequently have to ask people to repeat themselves. However, you might not find it to be a joking matter. Instead, you may find yourself feeling overly embarrassed and avoiding asking someone for a repeat, instead bluffing and pretending you caught what they heard. Trying to avoid that embarrassment is a sign of decreased confidence.
- You make jokes about it. Actually, this one could go either way. For some, making jokes about hearing loss (such as the “favorite word” joke used just above) is a way to take control of the situation, signal confidence, and be honest with themselves and others while still maintaining their sense of humor. For others, however, this is more of a self-deprecating joke, reflecting genuine self-doubt and insecurity and seeking affirmation from those around them. If you make jokes about your hearing loss but feel a little “off” about the jokes you’re making, you might fall into that second category.
- Not answering the phone. Phone calls can be difficult with hearing loss. Phones can distort voices, introduce distracting background noise, like wind noise, and drop and miss words. Moreover, you’re unable to use visual cues (lip reading, body language) to fill in the blanks if you miss what was said. As a result, you may find yourself letting the phone go to voicemail when you hear it ringing to avoid the hassle.
- Declining invitations. There are many valid reasons to decline an invitation to a gathering or party, but if you find yourself doing so more often and telling yourself simply that you “don’t feel like it,” it could be a sign of decreased social confidence. Parties and gatherings are complex listening environments; they often take place in crowded places, involve many conversations at once, and feature a lot of background noise (like music). That “don’t feel like it” feeling is your instinct to avoid a difficult situation.
When You Don’t Even Realize You’re Doing It
Our brains are efficient machines that adapt quickly. One of its main jobs is to protect you from perceived danger. If you’ve been feeling unconfident lately due to hearing loss, your brain will respond to that emotion and try to protect you from situations that make you feel embarrassed, afraid or overwhelmed. More importantly, it will do this without you being conscious of it.
One example is the “I don’t feel like it” feeling that we discussed above. If the phone rings or you’re invited to a party and you send the call to voicemail or decline the invitation, telling yourself you “don’t feel like it,” you aren’t consciously aware of the brain’s underlying reasoning: “I don’t feel like it…because I won’t be able to hear once I’m in that situation, and I don’t want to be embarrassed.”
How to Get Your Confidence Back
The good news? Treating hearing loss can help immensely with your social confidence. Hearing aids can help you reconnect with your friends, enjoy parties and follow conversations, all with confidence. To get started with your hearing loss treatment, contact Aaron's Hearing Aid & Audiology Center today. We’ll get you on the calendar for a hearing evaluation.