The average American asks, “What did you say?” or an equivalent phrase 1,095 times a year, according to new research.
A survey of 2,000 Americans revealed that respondents need to ask someone to repeat themselves an average of three times a day because they didn’t hear the first time.
This equates to approximately 91 times per month, or over 1,000 times annually.
Despite having difficulty hearing others, the average respondent will only ask twice before giving up and pretending they understood.
Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Audien Hearing, the survey examined the social impact this can have on respondents.
Results showed that 35% of participants have felt left out of a conversation due to not hearing well. While the results of mishearing others can sometimes be amusing, they can also be awkward, embarrassing, or even dangerous.
When asked for anecdotes about times they misheard others, one respondent shared, “Down in Texas, my girlfriend was trying to tell me there was a loose horse and I didn’t hear, and a horse ran right by me and knocked me down.”
Another respondent recalled a moment when their spouse corrected them for singing the wrong lyrics to a song: “The music aficionado in him required that I be corrected but the husband of 40+ years also knew gentleness and tact were required.”
A third participant said, “I had no idea what they said but I agreed and said yes. And before you knew it, I had to speak in front of a crowd.”
Possibly due to the consequences of mishearing, nearly one-fifth of Americans surveyed (17%) admit they have avoided social situations because of hearing difficulties. This figure was even higher for younger Americans: 23% of Gen Z respondents said they had done so, compared to just 11% of baby boomers.
“Whether you have hearing loss or not, nobody likes to ask someone to repeat themselves,” said Ishan Patel, CEO at Audien Hearing. “But even for those who do have hearing loss, not everyone is ready to pull the trigger on hearing aids, so it’s very common for people to tune out of conversations when they can’t hear. That’s why we should recognise this and take corrective action when needed.”
The survey asked respondents whether they had been medically diagnosed with a hearing issue, and 16% had received such a diagnosis. However, another 21% are concerned that they may have an undiagnosed hearing issue.
Regardless of whether they have a diagnosis or not, 40% of respondents believe their hearing has worsened over the past five years. Those who reported deterioration attributed it to age (62%) and exposure to loud noises in daily life (32%).
Respondents also noted that some of their personal habits may be contributing factors—specifically, playing loud music in their car (32%), listening to audio at high volumes through headphones (27%), and attending loud concerts (22%).
While many are worried about their hearing, only half (49%) feel informed about the available solutions for hearing problems.
They also cited various barriers to seeking help for hearing-related issues, both now and in the future. These included the cost of solutions (33%), a lack of knowledge about hearing loss (18%), and feelings of embarrassment (15%).
That sense of embarrassment may be a factor in preventing people from using hearing aids. Among the 93% of respondents who do not currently use hearing aids, 32% said they would not consider it, even if a medical professional recommended it.
“We always recommend seeking a medical opinion if you have hearing loss, but it’s important to know that your options have improved significantly in recent years,” said Patel. “Hearing aids used to cost nearly $5,000 per pair, required a prescription, and were bulky and unattractive.
“Now, due to technological advancements and new FDA guidelines, there are options for hearing aids over the counter for a fraction of the price, and many are much smaller and more discreet.”
