People, circumstances and relationships change, but our commitments to each other do not always take that simple fact into consideration. Consider a couple, both hearing people, who marry and have two children. At about age 40 the female begins to lose her hearing. As we lose our hearing, things seem to change for us, and for those around us. Our perceptions of each other, fueled by interactions often caused by ignorance, evolve.
Communication breaks down.
Perceived rejection sets in, accompanied by poor self-esteem. The process of socialization gradually shuts down. Recall Sternberg's theory. The difference between how the wife in this situation would like her husband to feel about her and how she thinks he actually feels undergoes change. He no longer believes he is getting from his wife what he wants from her.