Do You Have Selective Hearing... or Something More?

It’s a familiar joke, someone tunes out during a conversation and is accused of having “selective hearing.” But when it happens more often, particularly in noisy places, it might not be a matter of attention. It could be a sign of hearing loss.

Many people struggle to hear clearly in environments with background noise, like cafes, garden parties, or family gatherings.

You might catch the start of a sentence but miss the punchline. Or find yourself asking people to repeat themselves more often than you’d like.

This is one of the first signs of high-frequency hearing loss, which affects your ability to hear consonants like “s,” “t,” and “f.” In busy settings, the brain has to work overtime to fill in the gaps, leading to listening fatigue and even social withdrawal.

The good news? There’s plenty you can do.

At The Hearing Clinic, we often see people who didn’t realise how much they were missing until they tried hearing aids. With today’s advanced technology, it’s possible to reduce background noise, boost clarity, and make conversations feel natural again.

So, if someone’s been teasing you about “selective hearing,” it might be time for a hearing assessment, not a hearing lecture.

Here to help

Call our experienced team to book a hearing health check today and enjoy all the sounds you’ve been missing. Call or email us today.

Let the team at The Hearing Clinic help you to hear clearly and stay connected to the people, places and pastimes you care about

Give us a call on: 
01462 506074 (Hitchin) 
01923 372101 (Radlett)
01707 594979 (Welwyn)