Specsavers and Joe Duffy Put Hearing at the Heart of Relationships

Hearing is at the heart of all great relationships, and Specsavers has partnered with Ireland's best listener, Joe Duffy, to show how unaddressed hearing loss is quietly impacting relationships across Ireland. As part of the launch of ‘The Listening Line’ campaign with Joe, Specsavers shared new research that revealed over one in four of the nation believe their hearing loss has led to frustrations or impatience in their relationships along with a host of insights on Irish attitudes to hearing health and its impact on relationships including:

· 82% ask close family members to repeat something at least once a week

· 73% report some form of difficulty understanding conversations with close family members, with 36% confessing to guessing or pretending to know what was said during a conversation on a weekly basis

· 29% have arguments with partners or family due to mishearing, and 27% experience personal frustration due to their hearing difficulties

· On average, it takes people up to a decade to address changes in their hearing

As part of ‘The Listening Line’ campaign, Joe took to the road in Dublin this month in his specially commissioned ‘Joe Maxi’, his Specsavers taxi offering a space place for candid conversations for couples, friends and families, to talk about how hearing changes impact their relationships.

Commenting on the campaign, Joe Duffy said, "My entire career is built on listening and there's no doubt hearing is fundamental to real communication. From my day in the Joe Maxi listening to all the real-life stories from the passengers, one thing was crystal clear: when hearing is impacted, it’s not just about missing words, it’s about missing connections, misunderstandings and precious moments. I truly believe taking care of your hearing is an act of love for those around you, helping us truly hear each other again."

Orla Walsh, director of audiology at Specsavers Ireland, added, "As trusted hearing experts, we see the silent strain hearing difficulties place on relationships. When 'What?' starts to overshadow 'I love you', it’s time to act. We're delighted to partner with Joe to highlight the importance of hearing health, because a free hearing check isn't just about your ears, it's about transforming your connections and cherishing those precious conversations…… he also makes a great taxi driver, they truly are the best listeners!"

Don’t wait until you get to the point in your relationship when you’re not hearing each other. Specsavers hearing experts are here to help. If your hearing has changed, or you’re missing parts of the conversation, book a free hearing check with a Specsavers hearing expert. With nationwide coverage, same-day appointments, and options for PRSI benefits for hearing devices, prioritising your hearing health has never been easier. Discover how hearing health can improve your relationship here.

Visit here for more on The Specsavers Joe Maxi campaign.