A hearing expert has warned that selective hearing might be the “first sign” of irreversible hearing loss.

Selective hearing is a term often used in jest by friends and family. But it is also a real thing – used to describe when people can’t listen to one person in a loud environment. According to a report by a senior hearing aid audiologist, it might be a sign of natural, age-related hearing loss.

Those who are ageing often miss hearing certain things, such as dinner conversation or family planning. However you can help them stay sharp by paying more attention when they talk so that their interests don’t go wanting!

This type of hearing loss occurs naturally when the tiny hair-like fibres in your ear are damaged by inevitable wear and tear over the years.

Deep within our hearing system, we have tiny hairs that interpret soundwaves as they enter the ear and send messages to the brain.

The hairs that pick up the higher frequencies are the most prone to wear and tear, as these are the first to pick up the sound waves coming in. Damage to these hairs over time results in lack of speech clarity.

While there’s no cure for age-related hearing loss, if you are diagnosed with the condition, your audiologist will work with you to improve your hearing to ensure you maintain a good quality of life.

Many people also find their relatives asking them to turn the TV up louder than they used to, which can be an indicator that their hearing has changed.

These common signs are often confused with people being accused of selective hearing when the reality is something completely unavoidable has occurred.