AARP Hearing Center
![How to Convince a Partner to Get a Hearing Aid gif of a couple at a table, one using a megaphone because the other has trouble hearing](https://aarp.widen.net/content/zp4prqhioq/web/77352_gif01.gif?animate=true&u=alkyaq)
I’ve noticed my partner can’t hear very well, both at home and when we’re out. When I indicate concern, he just says, “You’re mumbling.” How can I convince him to get tested?
I’d begin by asking your partner if he hears other people clearly. If he responds with something like “Yes, I go to the office all day and hear everyone else,” then maybe he really can’t hear you when you’re talking. There are some people who really do mumble or are what I call “low talkers.” And sometimes at home, we try to talk to someone in another room and they aren’t listening. It’s a two-way street. If somebody says, “My partner cannot hear me,” there are things that both of you can do to fix that.
![Dr. Adam](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/experience-fragments/uxdia-folder-structure/en/features/program-promos/doctor-adam/master/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/container_copy_copy_/container/articleimage.coreimg.75.1140.png/content/dam/aarp/health/conditions_treatments/2024/07/1140-adam-illo.png)
Ask Dr. Adam
Adam B. Rosenbluth, M.D., is an internist and cardiologist in New York City. Each Monday, he’ll weigh in on your questions about how to make your body work better for you. His AARP book will be published in 2027.
I suggest you try engaging intentionally. By that, I mean to look your partner in the eyes and be clear with your message. This is a technique my wife and I use. For example, she’ll say “Adam, I have something important to tell you.” Now she’s got my attention and continues. “We have dinner tomorrow night at 7 p.m. You cannot be late.” I’ll say, “All right. I’ve heard you.”
AARP members can take the National Hearing Test for free once a year. The National Hearing Test is an independent and scientifically validated hearing screen test developed with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Find out more about the free at-home hearing test.
On the other hand, your partner might very well be hard of hearing. About 1 in 3 people ages 65 to 74 and nearly half of those over 75 have diminished hearing. The reason some people get angry when you ask about their hearing is because they’re embarrassed. They’re upset. They feel like this is them getting older. So it’s important to approach your partner in a context that he might appreciate.
![member card Image Alt Attribute](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/experience-fragments/uxdia-folder-structure/en/features/membership/inline-membership-promo/default/master5/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/container_copy/container/articleimage.coreimg.75.1140.png/content/dam/uxdia/membership-card-d-and-t.png)
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Labor Day Sale!
Join AARP for just $9 per year with a 5-year membership and get a FREE Gift!
If I was speaking to my dad when he was alive and practicing medicine, I might say, “Pop, I’ll try to do a better job of not mumbling. However, I’m really worried about you in the office. God forbid you miss something.” That shows him that I’m going to work on the problem he identified and motivates him to get his hearing tested because he would never want something bad to happen at work.
Hearing tests are really important because we know for a fact that people who can’t hear well often become disengaged. Lack of hearing can turn into isolation.
You Might Also Like
Doctor, Why Am I So Tired?
How to get your energy backAARP Smart Guide to Keeping Your Memory Sharp
22 science-backed ways to growing a healthier, happier brain, now and in the future
Hearing Loss Linked to Dementia
Getting hearing aids may lower risk, says new reportRecommended for You