Is your partner really ‘tone deaf’ or is something else going on?
Post on 30th October 2024
Ever asked your other half to take out the rubbish, only to be met with a blank stare? You’re not alone. We recently surveyed our customers about their partners’ ‘selective hearing’, and the results were eye-opening. Men, it turns out, are apparently three times more likely to be ‘tone deaf’ to household requests than women!
But here’s the thing – what if it’s not just your partner being deliberately difficult?
At Scrivens Optician’s & Hearing Care, with more than 85 years’ experience as a leading hearing and eye care specialist in the UK, we see this scenario play out all too often. What starts as a running joke about someone having ‘selective hearing’ can actually mask a genuine hearing problem that’s developing gradually over time.
The signs we often ignore
Does this sound familiar?
- Your partner constantly turns up the TV volume to levels that drive you mad
- They seem to miss parts of conversations, especially in noisy places
- You find yourself repeating things more often than you used to
- They complain that everyone is mumbling
If you’re nodding along, you’re in good company. Our survey found that half of the people we talked to said their partner watches TV or listens to the radio at volumes that are too loud for comfort. A third suspected their loved one might be experiencing hearing difficulties.
Why it matters
Alarmingly, half of the people we surveyed didn’t know that untreated hearing loss is linked to an increased risk of dementia. According to research published in The Lancet, a person’s hearing loss is related to an increased risk of developing dementia. The amount of hearing loss and length of time someone has hearing loss also impacts dementia risk.
People with hearing problems may also be more likely to withdraw from social situations and become more isolated over time. Social isolation and depression are both risk factors for dementia.
Hearing loss also means that the areas of the brain that help us understand sounds and speech have to work harder to understand what sounds are. This additional effort may lead to changes in the brain that affects our memory and thinking abilities.
It’s important to note that the link between hearing loss and dementia is not fully explained, but it does not mean that someone with hearing loss will go on to develop dementia – just that their risk is higher.
Good news
Getting your hearing checked has never been easier. Remember when you needed a GP referral for NHS hearing care? For many places in England, those days are gone. Now you can book directly with us, and if you have hearing loss, we can supply and fit NHS funded hearing aids on the same day.
Don’t turn a deaf ear
Changes in our hearing can be so gradual that we often don’t notice them happening. That annoying habit of ignoring requests might not be selective hearing after all – it could be your loved one’s way of coping with hearing loss.
So maybe it’s time to stop blaming your partner’s ‘selective hearing’ and start a conversation about getting their hearing checked. After all, better hearing means better relationships – and who doesn’t want that?
If you have any concerns about your hearing health, you will find help and advice on our website or alternatively visit your local Scrivens branch.
If you found this article useful, you may also be interested in reading about how hearing loss can impact mental health.