{"id":1230,"date":"2022-04-14T16:34:13","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T22:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/?p=1230"},"modified":"2022-04-14T17:04:28","modified_gmt":"2022-04-14T23:04:28","slug":"selective-hearing-vs-hearing-loss-how-to-tell-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westernmontanahearingandspeech.com\/selective-hearing-vs-hearing-loss-how-to-tell-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Selective Hearing vs Hearing Loss: How to Tell the Difference\ufffc"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Selective hearing is often used as a joke for people conveniently not hearing something they didn\u2019t want to, like when you ask your spouse to do the dishes or fold laundry. However, if you notice you or your partner are experiencing more and more instances of selective hearing, it may actually be the early stages of hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Focus and Selective Hearing <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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While selective hearing is often used in a negative context, it also has benefits. It allows you to tune out other noises and focus on a specific speaker in a crowd. To that end, research has shown that your goals play a big role in what you listen to and what you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 2008 study asked participants to pay attention to sounds in one ear<\/a> while ignoring the other. Researchers then played different pitches in each ear simultaneously and asked participants to note changes in the ear they were asked to focus on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MRI scans showed that participants were able to hear the sounds in each ear, however, brain activation was different depending on what sound they were paying attention to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Know When it Might Be Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you or your partner occasionally doesn\u2019t hear what the other said while you\u2019re watching a movie or engaged in another activity, it\u2019s probably nothing to worry about. However, if you notice more and more instances of hearing troubles or miscommunications, it might be time for a hearing test.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early Signs of Hearing Loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, be on the lookout for the following signs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n