Latest news with #HilaryWhitehall
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
My wife accused me of ‘selective hearing' – turns out I really was deaf
Michael, 85, and Hilary Whitehall, 64, were used to bickering after four decades of marriage but noticed that it was increasingly being caused by Michael's misunderstandings. A quick test revealed that mild hearing loss was to blame. Here the pair share the signs of hearing loss and game-changing role of a hearing device. — Michael It's not particularly new for a husband who's been married to his wife for nearly 40 years to not listen to a word she says. When I thought that Hilary was mumbling more, that's all I thought it was – I was just not listening when she started talking. I also thought that actors had started mumbling. I've been an agent for 40, 50 years and my big thing was always to tell my clients to speak clearly. I thought there was no enunciation any more – you can't hear what they're saying on television, at the cinema or at the theatre. Then, Hilary announced that she thought there might be a problem with my hearing and I told her to f--- off, which is my catch phrase. But I relented that she may have a point. When we would go to parties where there was a lot of music being played, I couldn't hear a thing. I'd leave early because I couldn't hear anyone. I'd get in a cab and go home. Recently, we were guests at a party. It was absolutely ram-packed and friends were coming over to me and I was standing there, not catching a word, and I could see they were thinking 'god, he's aged'. They ended up putting me in a booth so I could chat to people, who were having to queue to speak to me, as if I was royalty. When we went to the theatre, I'd ask Hilary to book the middle or front stalls to make sure I could hear everybody. I gave in around a month ago and went and saw these lovely people at Specsavers. Hilary had her test as well. I did the hearing check and the lady was absolutely charming. It was all very easy and took around 10 minutes. She presented Hilary's results first and said to her: 'Your hearing is perfect in all registers, absolutely 100 per cent so you have nothing to worry about'. Then she turned to me and her voice lowered and she said: 'On the other hand, Mr Whitehall, for a man of your age you have amazing hearing but there was hearing loss for the upper frequencies.' She presented me with the hearing devices and I selected the silver over-the-ear option and we've had some good success with it. I wore them at Wimbledon this week and I could hear what everyone was saying, not just when talking to me but conversations around me too. When watching the tennis, I could pick up the calls which I wouldn't have been able to before and I could hear the running commentary my son [the comedian Jack Whitehall] was whispering to me. Most of it was amusing remarks about players or somebody in the crowd, which is always good to listen to. I'm on the cusp of wearing it all the time but at the moment I just wear it if I'm going out. They are tiny little things and you don't even know they're in there. It's a far cry from the device my grandfather had, which were big black things like earphones that had a cable coming down to his chest where he had strapped on a speaker that used to crackle all the time and he used to hit it to get it to operate properly. We're happy to get our eyes checked and teeth checked but there seems to be a stigma about getting your ears checked. I think we need to try and debunk that. My audiologist says it would be helpful for people to get their hearing checked from the age of 50. — Hilary I first suspected that Michael had some hearing loss when I noticed we were bickering a lot as a result of misunderstandings or mishearings. Michael would say 'oh, it's beginning to rain' when I'd just said that two minutes ago, or he'd be standing there with a vacuum cleaner because he thought I said to clean the car rather than move the car. Michael kept telling me that it was because I was mumbling. Forget The Wittering Whitehalls, our podcast which we're going on tour with from October, we were the Bickering Whitehalls. We bicker quite a lot anyway because we're big characters but it was definitely becoming more prevalent in our relationship. Hearing loss is a very difficult thing to pin down. It's not linear, necessarily, as you might have a bit of hearing loss then it gets worse, or it can stabilise. There were other little tiny things as well. I have an Apple Watch and I noticed my step count had changed and I wasn't aware of doing more exercise or walking. I worked out that it was because I was having to go up and down the stairs much more than I had been because I'd usually shout up to Michael but all of a sudden he was saying 'what?' and 'I beg your pardon' so I had to keep going up there. Another thing I noticed was that every time Michael walked into the room, he would turn the volume up on the TV and every time I walked into the room, I would turn the volume down. I did think that could be a bit of a sign of hearing loss. We got to the point where Michael would say there's no point going to an event because he won't hear anything, so it was isolating. There were also occasions where we would go to an event and after about 20 minutes, Michael would say he was going home. I also thought it could be a bit of selective hearing, that my voice had simply become a bit of a noise to my husband. I became somebody I didn't particularly like because there was a lot of shouting and a lot of me snapping at him because dealing with mishearing several times a day gets very annoying. Michael wearing a hearing device has been a game changer. At our favourite restaurant the other night, which has amazing food but not great acoustics, he heard everything. My mood has certainly lightened because I'm not having to repeat myself all of the time and shout. Once you become aware of hearing devices, you start to notice how many people are wearing them. I went for a walk with a great friend the other day and was talking about it and it turns out that she's been wearing them for about six years and I had no idea. My mother used to have hearing devices but she never used to put the batteries in because she was very resistant to it. She did become quite isolated because she was literally zoning out because she couldn't hear things. The sooner you can intervene and get the hearing device you need, the better you can address it. He had them on in the house the other day and walked across our wooden floor and said, instantly, I think we need to get the floor fixed because it's started to creak. I explained that it has been creaking for the last eight years. Hearing loss affects 18 million adults in the UK, often unknowingly. Age-related hearing loss is the most common type and it is caused by gradual wear and tear to the tiny sensory cells in the inner ear. It tends to affect both ears and there's currently no way to restore this form of hearing loss. Mishearing is the main symptom but needing to ask people to repeat themselves, having music or television volume higher than other people need and feeling tired or stressed from having to concentrate while listening to others are also signs. It can also lead to relationship difficulties, with more than a third of couples arguing weekly because of mishearing, according to research from Specsavers. As well as these effects on daily life, hearing loss, when left untreated, doubles the risk of developing dementia when it is mild, while severe hearing loss that is not treated raises the risk five-fold. This link isn't fully understood but it is thought that people with hearing loss may become isolated, which is a dementia risk factor. 'Many don't realise that they are missing parts of the conversation,' says Sonam Sehemby, a hearing expert at Specsavers. 'Since it develops gradually, people often wait up to 10 years before seeking help.' However, hearing loss is easily diagnosed with a simple hearing check, which is available on the NHS and free at some pharmacies and opticians. Following a diagnosis, hearing aids are recommended to combat hearing loss by making sounds louder and clearer. 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Scotsman
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Couples say ‘what' more often than ‘I love you'
Michael and Hilary Whitehall | Michael and Hilary Whitehall Almost half (46%) of people in a relationship admit they've argued with their partner because they couldn't hear each other properly, reveals a survey. Free weekly newsletter Join our weekly YourWorld newsletter for updates, behind-the-scenes insights from our editors and your chance to shape what's next. Free weekly newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... 'What?' is now a more common phrase than 'I love you' among couples 55+, according to new research. Almost half (46%) of people in a relationship admit they've argued with their partner because they couldn't hear each other properly, reveals a survey. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This results in people feeling 'frustrated' (42%), 'ignored' (33%) and even 'unloved' (11%). Undiagnosed hearing loss could therefore be the culprit of these relationship bickers. To raise awareness of the issue, the Whitehalls have partnered with Specsavers to cheekily cause drama by appearing to argue in a series of public stunts that show how Michael's hearing difficulties affect their daily lives. After wide-spread comment and speculation, the couple have since revealed in a hilarious new Public Service Announcement video that Michael's undetected hearing loss was the source of many of these bickers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Michael has now been fitted with new hearing devices and the pair are encouraging other couples in similar situations to take action to stay connected. Michael Whitehall commented: 'I've always blamed our usual bickers on Hilary's mumbling. 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? 'The most romantic thing you can do … is booking a hearing check. Safe to say, missing half the conversation isn't ideal in a marriage. Now I've been fitted with hearing devices I've realised how much I was missing before – and the issues my hearing was causing.' Hilary Whitehall commented: 'For a long time I thought Michael was just ignoring me or not getting my jokes. Unsurprisingly, or at least not to me, Michael's hearing check identified a little hearing loss. But now we know that's what's going on and he's got a hearing device, we're bickering less and laughing more.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Whitehalls aren't alone in their hearing struggles. A third (36%) admit they argue every week due to not quite hearing one another. Misunderstandings between couples range from simply getting the wrong end of the stick in a conversation (34%) to actually offending their partner (17%). This has resulted in a fifth (21%) walking away from the conversation and one in six (14%) have even stopped talking to their other half. When asked what might help ease these issues, one in five cited a hearing check as a potential fix – and, in fact, at least one member of 14 per cent of couples has suggested the other book an appointment. Relationship expert, Sarah Louise Ryan, commented: 'Miscommunication in relationships is one of the most common issues I hear about in my couples practice. For some, it's that they're having trouble expressing themselves, or that they don't have the tools to resolve a difference of opinion, but in many cases, it's a result of couples not hearing each other correctly. This can cause marital tension and frustration. So, if this sounds familiar in your relationship, don't put off seeking expert help.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Specsavers hearing expert, Sonam Sehemby, commented: '18 million adults in the UK have hearing loss and many don't realise that they are missing parts of the conversation. Since it develops gradually, people often wait up to ten years before seeking help. But 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.' For some, not being quite heard by their partner becomes a daily issue. One in six (15%) say they're misunderstood by their partner at least once a day. Dr Zoe Williams, GP, commented: 'Hearing loss doesn't just affect your ears, it affects your relationships, confidence, and overall wellbeing. It's important not to ignore ear health – if you're having challenges hearing properly, there are steps you can take to get back on the same page.' To watch The Whitehall's PSA please visit
Scotsman
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Couples say ‘what' more often than ‘I love you'
Michael and Hilary Whitehall | Michael and Hilary Whitehall Almost half (46%) of people in a relationship admit they've argued with their partner because they couldn't hear each other properly, reveals a survey. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... 'What?' is now a more common phrase than 'I love you' among couples 55+, according to new research. Almost half (46%) of people in a relationship admit they've argued with their partner because they couldn't hear each other properly, reveals a survey. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This results in people feeling 'frustrated' (42%), 'ignored' (33%) and even 'unloved' (11%). Undiagnosed hearing loss could therefore be the culprit of these relationship bickers. To raise awareness of the issue, the Whitehalls have partnered with Specsavers to cheekily cause drama by appearing to argue in a series of public stunts that show how Michael's hearing difficulties affect their daily lives. After wide-spread comment and speculation, the couple have since revealed in a hilarious new Public Service Announcement video that Michael's undetected hearing loss was the source of many of these bickers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Michael has now been fitted with new hearing devices and the pair are encouraging other couples in similar situations to take action to stay connected. Michael Whitehall commented: 'I've always blamed our usual bickers on Hilary's mumbling. 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? 'The most romantic thing you can do … is booking a hearing check. Safe to say, missing half the conversation isn't ideal in a marriage. Now I've been fitted with hearing devices I've realised how much I was missing before – and the issues my hearing was causing.' Hilary Whitehall commented: 'For a long time I thought Michael was just ignoring me or not getting my jokes. Unsurprisingly, or at least not to me, Michael's hearing check identified a little hearing loss. But now we know that's what's going on and he's got a hearing device, we're bickering less and laughing more.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Whitehalls aren't alone in their hearing struggles. A third (36%) admit they argue every week due to not quite hearing one another. Misunderstandings between couples range from simply getting the wrong end of the stick in a conversation (34%) to actually offending their partner (17%). This has resulted in a fifth (21%) walking away from the conversation and one in six (14%) have even stopped talking to their other half. When asked what might help ease these issues, one in five cited a hearing check as a potential fix – and, in fact, at least one member of 14 per cent of couples has suggested the other book an appointment. Relationship expert, Sarah Louise Ryan, commented: 'Miscommunication in relationships is one of the most common issues I hear about in my couples practice. For some, it's that they're having trouble expressing themselves, or that they don't have the tools to resolve a difference of opinion, but in many cases, it's a result of couples not hearing each other correctly. This can cause marital tension and frustration. So, if this sounds familiar in your relationship, don't put off seeking expert help.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Specsavers hearing expert, Sonam Sehemby, commented: '18 million adults in the UK have hearing loss and many don't realise that they are missing parts of the conversation. Since it develops gradually, people often wait up to ten years before seeking help. But 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.' For some, not being quite heard by their partner becomes a daily issue. One in six (15%) say they're misunderstood by their partner at least once a day. Dr Zoe Williams, GP, commented: 'Hearing loss doesn't just affect your ears, it affects your relationships, confidence, and overall wellbeing. It's important not to ignore ear health – if you're having challenges hearing properly, there are steps you can take to get back on the same page.'
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Almost half of Brit couples say ‘what' more than ‘I love you'… and a 3rd argue a few times a week, survey finds
A SURVEY of 2,000 adults in relationships found the common miscommunications that can result in arguments. "What?' is a more common phrase than 'I love you' among couples over 55, according to research. 3 3 A poll of 2,000 adults in relationships found nearly half of all couples (46 per cent) have fallen out because they haven't heard each other properly. While 28 per cent get into an argument a few times a week at least, over mis-hearings. And this leaves them feeling a range of emotions when not listened to – including frustrated (42 per cent), ignored (33 per cent), disconnected (19 per cent), and even unloved (11 per cent). This phenomenon also leads to a range of misunderstandings between couples – from simply getting the wrong gist of a conversation (34 per cent) to actually offending their partner (17 per cent). And these miscommunications weren't one-offs – with a third being misunderstood by their significant other a few times a week or more. Specsavers, which commissioned the research, also partnered with beloved celebrity couple, Hilary and Michael Whitehall to cheekily cause drama by appearing to argue in a series of public stunts that show how Michael's hearing difficulties affect their daily lives. After some speculation, the couple have revealed in a Public Service Announcement video that Michael's undetected hearing loss was the source of many of these bickers. Michael said: 'I've always blamed our usual bickers on Hilary's mumbling. 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? 'The most romantic thing you can do … is booking a hearing check. Safe to say, missing half the conversation isn't ideal in a marriage. 'Now I've been fitted with hearing devices I've realised how much I was missing before – and the issues my hearing was causing.' What REALLY happened with Harry Styles' Glastonbury kiss - and which new celeb couples went public? Hilary said: 'For a long time I thought Michael was just ignoring me or not getting my jokes. 'Unsurprisingly, or at least not to me, Michael's hearing check identified a little bit of hearing loss. 'But now we know that's what's going on and he's got a hearing device, we're bickering less and laughing more.' The study also found couples ask each other to repeat themselves an average of four times a week – with a fifth doing so seven times a week or more. And just under half (48 per cent) reported having to at least sometimes shout to be heard by their significant other. Two in 10 went so far as to say they believe their partner doesn't listen to them when having a serious conversation – with most ignored topics including family issues (23 per cent), their feelings (22 per cent), and even problems in their relationship (16 per cent). As a result, 27 per cent admitted they have accused their better half of 'selective hearing'. With a third of those polled by OnePoll confronting their companions weekly, or more regularly, about not listening to them. In extreme cases, this has even resulted in 21 per cent walking away and leaving the situation – with 14 per cent saying they even stopped talking to their other half. When asked what might help ease these issues, respondents suggested being patient and understanding (35 per cent) and avoiding interrupting one another (27 per cent). Having a hearing check was also cited by 24 per cent of couples as a potential fix. In fact, at least one person in 14 per cent of couples have suggested the other book a hearing check. And nine per cent of couples have seen at least one of them diagnosed with hearing loss – allowing them to get the help they need. Relationship expert, Sarah Louise Ryan, added: 'Miscommunication in relationships is one of the most common issues I hear about in my couples practice. "For some, it's that they're having trouble expressing themselves, or that they don't have the tools to resolve a difference of opinion, but in many cases, it's a result of couples not hearing other correctly. 'This can cause marital tension, frustration, so if this sounds familiar in your relationship, don't put off seeking expert help.' Specsavers hearing expert, Sonam Sehemby, commented: '18 million adults in the UK have hearing loss and many don't realise that they are missing parts of the conversation. 'Since it develops gradually, people often wait up to ten years before seeking help. 'But 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.' 3
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Hidden health condition causes relationship woes in almost half of all couples
If struggling to hear your partner is causing tension in your relationship, you're not alone. Nearly half of all couples have fallen out because of hearing loss, according to a recent poll of 2,000 adults. The problem leaves two fifths feeling frustrated, a third feeling ignored, and a fifth feeling disconnected from their partner. In fact, one in ten described it leaving them feeling unloved, and said 'What?' was a more common phrase in their romance than 'I love you'. With over a third of adults getting the wrong gist of a conversation and 17 per cent to offending their partner, it can lead to easily avoidable arguments. These miscommunications weren't one-offs—a third said they were misunderstood by their significant other a few times a week or more. The findings followed a series of public stunts by the parents of UK comedian Jack Whitehall— Hilary and Michael Whitehall—who cheekily caused drama to show how Michael's hearing affects their daily lives. Michael said: 'I've always blamed our usual bickers on Hilary's mumbling.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hilary Whitehall (@hilarywhitehall) '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?' Since the test, he has been fitted with hearing devices. He said: 'I've realised how much I was missing before—and the issues my hearing was causing. 'The most romantic thing you can booking a hearing check. 'Safe to say, missing half the conversation isn't ideal in a marriage.' The pair leaked CCTV footage of themselves arguing due to problems with Michael's hearing, before revealing it was part of a campaign to raise awareness. Michael stood in front of a huge sign which read 'Dear Hilary, I'm sorry. Love Michaelxx'. The poll by OnePoll also found couples ask each other to repeat themselves an average of four times a week. And just under half reported having to shout at least sometimes to be heard by their significant other. It also revealed two in 10 believe their partner doesn't listen to them when having a serious conversation. The most common ignored topics included family issues (23 per cent), their feelings (22 per cent), and even problems in their relationship (16 per cent). As a result, 27 per cent admitted they have accused their better half of 'selective hearing', with a third of all participants confronting them on it weekly or more regularly. In extreme cases, this led 21 per cent to walk away or leave the situation—with 14 per cent revealing they even stopped talking to their partner. Commenting on the findings, relationship expert Sarah Louise Ryan, said: 'Miscommunication in relationships is one of the most common issues I hear about in my couples practice. 'For some, it's that they're having trouble expressing themselves, or that they don't have the tools to resolve a difference of opinion. 'But in many cases, it's a result of couples not hearing each other correctly. 'This can cause marital tension, frustration, so if this sounds familiar in your relationship, don't put off seeking expert help.' Meanwhile Specsavers hearing expert Sonam Sehemby, added: '18million adults in the UK have hearing loss and many don't realise that they are missing parts of the conversation. 'Since it develops gradually, people often wait up to ten years before seeking help. 'But 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.' It is estimated one in six of UK adults are affected by hearing loss—which is more than eight million people. The majority are aged 60 or over, with 900,000 people being severely or profoundly deaf. Experts say the main causes of hearing loss are ageing, noise exposure, genetics and medical conditions. In some cases, hearing loss can be due to infections that can be treated, or a build up of wax that can be removed. But main treatments are hearing aids, cochlear implants—electronic devices that stimulate the auditory nerve to help people hear—or other assistive devices.
