My new partner is a big fan of talking in bed, but my hearing's getting worse in my 50s and I can't always hear him. Age-related hearing loss typically starts when people are in their forties or fifties, though changes generally only usually become noticeable when people are in their sixties, but they are progressive. It is important not to ignore this issue because there is growing evidence that acting on hearing loss earlier can delay cognitive decline. Hearing loss disturbs the natural "give and take" of conversational exchange and, as you have already discovered, faking it is not a foolproof strategy. Hearing loss undermines relationships in ways that aren't always obvious.

Source: Irish Examiner March 09, 2026 11:00 UTC