It's a frustrating scenario that most couples will have experienced; you ask your partner to do something and they conveniently "didn't hear you".
A study from Scrivens Hearing Care suggests that 'selective hearing' in couples is more common than you might think and men are the biggest culptits.
Men "don't hear" their partners an average of 7 times per week (388 times a year), while women don't hear what their partners have to say 6 times per week (339 times a year).
Could selective hearing be a sign of something serious?
Beyond just an annoying habit, research suggests that your partner's hearing loss might be a sign of something more sinister.
54% of couples in the poll are genuinely concerned about their partner's hearing and 38% say their partner finds socialising frustrating as they struggle to hear.
Hearing aid audiologist at Scrivens, Kirran Saimbi said:"Left ignored, hearing loss can lead to isolation, depression and there is evidence of a link with dementia.
"The earlier we can seek help for hearing loss the better, as it can prevent common side-effects such as social withdrawal and depression.
How to protect ear health
The only sure way to protect your hearing is with regular hearing check ups.
According to the NHS , hearing loss occurs gradually and you might not even notice it at first. A hearing check can detect problems early and help prevent further damage.
Unsure about yours or your partner's hearing health? Take on Scrivens online hearing check challenge to find out whether you could benefit from a free hearing health check
