Is Selective Hearing a Real Condition? Understanding Auditory Selective Attention
You may think your spouse’s "selective hearing" is a choice - but science argues otherwise. The phenomenon of selective hearing is more than choosing when or when not to listen, according to a recent article by Dr. Stella Fulman at Audiology Island in New York.
"Selective hearing is the brain’s ability to prioritize and process certain auditory stimuli over others," she wrote. "It enables individuals to concentrate on particular sounds while ignoring or minimizing the impact of competing noises."
Selective hearing is an automatic response in the brain that filters sound, according to experts. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jorge Rey, a Miami Beach-based audiologist at HearUSA, confirmed that selective hearing "isn’t just a matter of people tuning others out or ignoring them."
"It’s a real neurological process rooted in how the brain processes sound." Scientifically, selective hearing is known as "auditory selective attention," in which the brain’s built-in filter focuses on "important sounds" and separates meaningful speech from background noise.
In essence, selective hearing happens because the brain prioritizes certain sounds over others, with the goal of helping us function in noisy environments. One classic example is hearing a friend’s voice in a crowded restaurant, a phenomenon known as the "cocktail party effect."
The "cocktail party effect" is the auditory process of focusing on important sounds, such as one person in a conversation.
The Science Behind Selective Hearing
The process involves two key parts of the brain - the auditory cortex, which processes sounds, and the prefrontal cortex, which controls attention and decision-making. Working memory also latches onto the selected stream of information at the same time, allowing a person to follow a conversation.
"It’s important to note that selective hearing isn’t just distraction or disinterest - it’s the result of an increased cognitive load and fatigue," Rey said. "Selective hearing isn’t just distraction or disinterest - it’s the result of an increased cognitive load and fatigue."
As hearing loss worsens, especially with age, it can cause this process to break down, causing all sounds to "compete for attention." This can result in "listening fatigue," which makes it harder for the brain to process sound properly, Rey said.
"Over time, untreated hearing loss can impact memory and cognitive health, negatively impacting quality of life." Even mild hearing loss can make the brain work harder to fill in missing sounds, according to the expert.
Selective hearing is the ability to listen to a single speaker while in a crowded or loud environment. You might also hear it referred to as “selective auditory attention” or the “cocktail party effect.”
Selective hearing involves many factors, including your goals, vision, and brain activity patterns.
Goals
Your brain chooses what to listen to based on what you’re trying to do. For example, imagine that someone started talking to you while you were trying to finish watching an episode of a TV show. Chances are good that you didn’t hear much of what they said to you. Your brain prioritized the sound of the TV over that person’s voice because your goal was to finish watching the show.
A 2008 study put this concept to the test by asking participants to pay attention to sounds in one ear but not in the other. The investigators then played different pitches in each ear at the same time and asked the participants to note any changes in pitch in the ear they were asked to focus on.
MRI scans of the participants’ brains showed that they heard the sounds in each ear. However, when they were detecting changes in the specified ear, they ignored the sound in the other ear.
Vision
Visual cues are also an important part of selective hearing. For example, a 2013 study involved playing audio of a man and woman talking at the same time. Participants were asked to pay attention to either the female or the male speaker. They had a much easier time focusing on only the male or the female voice when watching a video of the speakers along with the audio.
Based on these results, being able to see someone while they’re talking might help you listen more effectively.
Brain Activity
A 2012 study found that the presentation of sounds within your brain doesn’t reflect all of the sounds in your environment but, rather, what you want or need to hear. These results are similar to those of the 2008 study discussed above.
Investigators used about 90 electrodes per person to monitor the brain activity of people undergoing surgery for epilepsy. Participants were asked to listen to two different samples of speech at the same time. Each sample contained a different speaker and phrase. They were then asked to pick out which words were said by one of the two speakers. Using information about brain activity patterns from the electrodes as well as a decoding process, the investigators reconstructed what the participants heard. The brain activity patterns suggested that the participants only paid attention to the speaker they were asked to focus on.
In addition, the investigators were able to use these brain activity patterns to predict which speaker the participant listened to and determine whether they paid attention to the wrong speaker at any point.
While the recent research surrounding selective hearing is interesting, it also has several real-world applications.
Real-World Applications and Potential Treatments
The predictive and decoding technology from the 2012 study discussed above may help researchers better understand the effects of aging and certain conditions on hearing function. In addition, people with hearing loss, ADHD, auditory processing deficits, and autism seem to have trouble with selective hearing. The decoding technology could help researchers understand what people with these conditions are actually hearing and processing. Knowing this information could be crucial for developing new treatments.
Some people seek out treatment for selective hearing. However, it’s a phenomenon that affects nearly everyone. There are a few things you can do to improve your listening skills, such as:
- Pay attention. When you’re talking to someone, try to pay attention to more than just their words. Try to take in visual cues from their facial expressions or body language while they’re talking.
- Summarize. At the end of a conversation, try briefly summarizing the main points to make sure you clearly understood everything.
- Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask the other person a question about something they’ve said that’s unclear. Taking a few seconds to ask them to elaborate is usually less bothersome than a potential misunderstanding down the line.
- Mind your own biases. While it’s easier said than done, try to be aware of your own biases and judgments about people when you’re talking to them.
It's not uncommon for people to not recognize the signs of hearing loss. That's especially true of spouses who may quickly believe that their loved one simply has selective hearing. Selective hearing is a term some people use that refers to another person's lack of responding to them, not because of hearing loss but because they don't want to respond or they are focused on something else. When your spouse doesn't answer your questions or hears you calling from the basement, are they choosing not to respond, or is it something else?
Are They Just Tuning You Out?
If you've ever had a teenager or a two-year-old, you know what tuning out means. They may hear you talking, but they are not paying attention to what you are saying. They are not listening. "They hear what they want to hear." "They conveniently are not listening to you."
The same concept could be applied to your spouse or another adult you know. It's frustrating when you're saying something important, but they are not responding to it. In some situations, this lack of hearing and responding to you could indicate hearing loss. For many people, hearing loss starts slowly and worsens over time. It’s easy to believe that someone is just not paying attention or even choosing not to listen. If you notice significant changes in your spouse’s communication patterns, even if they do not recognize the problem themselves, that could indicate a larger problem with hearing loss.
Common Signs of Hearing Loss
How do you know when your spouse or other loved one is suffering from hearing loss? If you are sitting around the table with friends, but they are not speaking as often as they used to, how do you know that’s a hearing problem and not just a lack of interest?
There’s no real way to know what’s happening until a comprehensive hearing test happens. There are some common signs that it may be time for you to reach out for one.
- The TV Volume Challenge: Do you always have to turn the TV's volume down? Perhaps they turn it up increasingly throughout the evening as you are watching together. You may not think the TV volume needs to go up, or there may not be much other sound in the home while they are watching TV. Sometimes people may say, "Why do they make the music so loud?" Other times the background noise on the TV show seems distracting.
- What Did You Say?: Another indication of hearing loss occurs when a person asks people often to repeat information. I may ask you numerous times a day about what you said. It may seem like they are just not paying attention to you, and that is frustrating. You may even believe your loved one doesn't care enough to listen. Also, notice if they do this with other people. Do they ask other people to repeat themselves often?
- Do They Just Say Yes or No?: Sometimes, people recognize their hearing is becoming more challenging, but they don't bring it up. They don't want to ask you to repeat yourself numerous times, so they just say yes or no even though they haven't really heard the question. If you ask an open-ended question, such as about an opinion or what they want for dinner, and they say yes or no rather than providing an answer, that could mean they were unable to hear you.
- Are Phone Conversations Difficult?: Many people begin to struggle with hearing loss and notice it when they cannot talk on the phone well. Sometimes they blame the phone for being hard to hear, or they may believe the other person on the line is not speaking into the phone. No matter what the reasoning is, when phone conversations with more than one person start to become difficult, that's an indication of a larger problem that needs attention.
- Withdrawing from Social Activities and Conversations: Those with hearing loss often begin removing themselves from conversations. They may no longer engage as often with friends or family. They seem withdrawn and quiet. This happens whether they know they are struggling with hearing loss or even when they do not. Sometimes they are embarrassed to have to ask for information to be repeated. Other times, they simply don’t engage in busy environments because they know it’s too hard to hear. Have you noticed your loved one just not participating like they used to or having other behavior changes related to social activities or interactions with other people?
- They Seem Exhausted After Socializing: What happens after dinner with friends in a busy restaurant? Does your loved one simply come home and want to be alone? Do they feel like they are very tired after such socialization opportunities? There is no doubt that being unable to hear well and constantly straining to be able to hear others is exhausting. It's not always easy to put these things together, but try to pay attention to how your loved one acts after these types of social situations that are specifically new to them.
Socializing can be exhausting for people with hearing loss.
If you’re unsure if your loved one does these things often or just once in a while, take the next few days to track these instances. How often are they not paying attention to the conversation? Remember, a person with hearing loss has no control over it and probably did nothing to cause it. They need compassion in these situations.
Making the Decision to Get a Hearing Test
If you've noticed these types of changes and want them to get help, the first step is to have a hearing test. It's very common for people to pull back. They may even say they are stressed or not interested in talking anymore. Sometimes they are so reluctant they may work hard to make it seem like they can hear just fine, aiming to prove you wrong.
This is a difficult topic for many. Some also find it challenging to admit they need hearing help because they are worried about their self-image or the costs of hearing aids. These are valid concerns, but not being able to hear will significantly impact their quality of life. On average, a person will wait 7 years before they visit a hearing specialist even if they know they are having some level of hearing loss. Talk about the benefits of treatment with your loved one. Getting back to the things they love. It could be watching TV, interacting with friends, or enjoying hobbies again. Make sure your loved one sees how hearing aids could help them enjoy life again.
Recognize the risks to mental health. A person with hearing loss that does not seek treatment is at a higher risk of developing depression and dementia. This occurs because they are unable to take in the world around them as they did. It impacts brain cognition, not just mental health. They could see relationships improve. Hearing loss can create significant rifts in a person's relationships, whether it's a family member who doesn't understand or a friendship they no longer connect with. A hearing aid may help them to get back to it again. It could get worse. If hearing loss isn’t treated, it can worsen significantly. Early detection may enable a person to get treatment that can slow the decline or at least help to meet that decline with additional treatment. It’s unsafe. Explain how important it is that they can hear you. What if you need help? What if it worsens and they cannot drive any longer? What if they cannot talk on the phone again? Provide a supportive level of conversation for your loved one. Hearing loss is devastating, and it is often easier not to talk about or admit what's occurring - and even be blamed for having selective hearing - than it is to recognize the real problem in front of them.
| Sign of hearing loss | Description |
|---|---|
| Turning up the TV volume | Frequently increasing the volume to levels that are too loud for others. |
| Asking others to repeat themselves | Frequently requesting that others repeat what they have said. |
| Saying "yes" or "no" inappropriately | Answering "yes" or "no" to open-ended questions due to not hearing the question properly. |
| Difficulty with phone conversations | Struggling to hear and understand conversations on the phone. |
| Withdrawing from social activities | Avoiding or reducing participation in social events and conversations. |
| Appearing exhausted after socializing | Feeling unusually tired or drained after social interactions due to the effort of trying to hear. |
Can Hearing Loss Be Treated?
A common question many experiencing the first stages of hearing loss have is this one. “Is there anything that can be done anyway?” Some people believe that this is just part of life and something they have to deal with as they get older. There are highly effective treatment options for most people. That's especially true in situations where a person's hearing is getting worse over time. While hearing aids may seem hard to use and embarrassing, today's products are highly effective and less likely to be noticed in a person's ear. More so, attitudes and perspectives on the use of hearing aids have changed. Since they are more readily acceptable, more people have them. Keep in mind that many specialized products are available today to help a person hear better. Without a doubt, it is necessary to have a hearing test and a professional fitting for a hearing aid based on the type of losses your spouse is experiencing. Don't put off having that hearing screening done.
Don't put off having that hearing screening done.
Signs of hearing loss include struggling to follow conversations in loud environments or large group settings, frequently asking others to repeat themselves, leaning in toward the speaker, providing answers that are irrelevant to the conversation or seeming disengaged when listening. There may also be a recognizable increase in frustration, fatigue, irritability or a tendency to withdraw from social situations due to the act of listening feeling "overwhelming."
"If these issues happen often and others around you notice the pattern, it may be time to check in with an audiologist or hearing care professional to determine whether selective hearing is masking a deeper issue," Rey advised.
Hearing aids may be an appropriate option for people with symptoms of hearing loss.
Hearing aids and other modern hearing devices use technology that enhances speech and filters noise, he noted. They can also stream audio from smartphones, which can be helpful for some.
For friends and family of those with hearing complications, Ray recommends facing the person while speaking in noisy or busy places, using clear facial expressions and speech, and reducing background noise where possible.