We’ve all laughed at the idea of selective hearing. It usually comes up in the kind of everyday marital exchange that plays out in kitchens across the world:
Partner: “Can you take the bins out?”
Husband: Silence.
Partner: “Dinner’s ready!”
Husband: Appears instantly, like magic.
It’s a classic joke, and there’s a reason it lands so well – it reflects a familiar reality. But here’s something that might surprise you: what we often call selective hearing might not be a choice at all. It could be a genuine sign of early hearing loss, a condition so gradual and specific that people often don’t realise it’s happening to them.
As the CEO of a company focused on hearing health, I’ve heard countless stories that start with “He just doesn’t listen,” and end with the realisation that it wasn’t about effort, but about the ears themselves.
Why You Hear Some People and Not Others
Hearing loss isn’t a light switch, it’s a dimmer. And what fades first? Often, the high-frequency sounds: women’s voices, children’s voices, and certain consonants like “s,” “t,” and “f.”
So, someone might hear the low rumble of a car, or a deep male voice, perfectly well but completely miss the details of what someone else is saying. It’s not because they’re ignoring you. It’s because the parts of speech that carry meaning – the clarity, the consonants – are just… gone.
Imagine your hearing like a piano. If the higher keys are broken, the melody disappears, even if the bass is booming.
“You’re Mumbling!” – A Misunderstood Symptom
One of the most common complaints I hear from people with hearing loss is: “Everyone’s mumbling these days.” But here’s the truth: they’re not. What’s actually happening is that your ears are missing parts of the sentence. Your brain fills in the gaps, often incorrectly, leading to confusion and frustration.
That misunderstanding can strain relationships. It’s hard to connect when you’re constantly asking people to repeat themselves, or worse, when you pretend you heard and miss something important.
The Old Way Isn’t Working
For decades, people have been told to “go get a hearing test.” And yes, that sounds like solid advice. But for many people, it’s a barrier rather than a solution.
Why?
Because it means booking an appointment, visiting a clinic, sitting in a sound booth, listening to beeps then, in most cases, being rattled by hearing aid prices. For someone already feeling self-conscious or unsure, that’s a big leap.
And often, what awaits them at the other end is a high-pressure sales pitch for an expensive hearing aid – ranging from $6,000 to sometime $12,000 dollars – based on a test that didn’t reflect their real-life experience.
It’s no wonder so many people wait years, even decades, before getting help.
A New, More Comfortable First Step
At PocketAid, we wanted to create a softer landing. Something that meets people where they are – not in a clinic, but at home.
That’s why we developed our Hearing Aid Simulator. It’s not a medical test. It’s not a diagnosis. What it is, is a real-world listening experience that lets you explore how your hearing works in 12 of life’s most common (and challenging) sound environments.
Think crowded cafés, car conversations, listening to a grandchild or family discussions over dinner.
What we’ve found is that this kind of early self-reflection is a game-changer. It gently helps people realise where they’re struggling, without embarrassment or pressure. It gets you thinking, and feeling, and hearing the problem for yourself.
Wondering what better hearing sounds like? Try the free Hearing Aid Simulator
How Hearing Aids Actually Help
If you’ve been sceptical about hearing aids, you’re not alone. Many people believe they simply make things louder. But modern hearing aids are far more sophisticated than that.
Imagine your ears are like an old pair of speakers. The tweeters are blown, and the sound is muffled. A hearing aid doesn’t just crank the volume; it restores the detail. It separates the voice from the background noise, clarifies speech, and helps you re-engage in moments you didn’t realise you were missing.
It’s Time to Change the Conversation
Hearing loss affects nearly 1 in 3 people over 65, and a surprising number under 60. But too many of us wait too long to address it, partly because the signs are subtle, and partly because the solutions feel intimidating.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
What if the first step didn’t feel like a test, but an invitation?
What if getting support wasn’t about admitting a problem, but rediscovering joy – in music, in conversation, in laughter around the table?
You don’t have to wait until someone drags you into a clinic. You can start today on your own terms, from your own home. And if our Hearing Aid Simulator gives you that nudge, we’ll know we’re doing something right.
After all, hearing life clearly shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be a given.
Try the Hearing Aid Simulator at www.pocketaid.com.au
Images: Supplied
This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with PocketAid
