Advertisement Listen up: Being hard of hearing can cause hard feelings. About half (47.8 percent) of the respondents feel their marriage has suffered because of their spouse’s hearing loss. Nearly seven out of 10 (64.8 percent) feel annoyed when their spouse cannot hear them. In addition, 16.4 percent feel ignored and 8.1 percent feel sad or hurt.
Loud talkers: Raised voices become more familiar. More than half (59.8 percent) find themselves in recent years talking louder daily so their spouse can hear them. And 83.4 percent feel if they talk loud enough, it would help their spouse better understand what they are saying.
Sounds like a sandwich: Is it hearing loss, or selective hearing? While 45.3 percent of respondents believe their spouse doesn’t hear chore requests, 77.5 percent say their spouse can hear them fix a snack.
In denial: Nearly half believe their spouse is in denial about their hearing loss. Of the boomers surveyed, 56.8 percent feel their spouse is reluctant to get his or her hearing checked. Nearly half (46.4 percent) feel denial is the No. 1 reason their significant other is hesitant to get his or her hearing checked.
Time for check-up: Hearing screenings are few and far between. More than a third (35.6 percent) know their spouse hasn’t had his or her hearing checked in more than three years. Moreover, 23.4 percent revealed their spouse has never had his or her hearing checked.
Source: McClatchy Newspapers
