He's TV's go-to matchmaker and relationship expert, and Paul Brunson knows that keeping the magic of a relationship alive isn't about grand gestures.
It is often those small moments; the shared coffees, dinners out, and watching your favourite TV shows together that create a real bond.
Communication is at the heart of it all. But what happens if you or your partner are missing part of the conversation?
Paul has teamed up with Specsavers to help couples move beyond accusations of 'selective hearing' and TV volume wars, answering real-life dilemmas from readers to help them reconnect.
Relationship expert Paul Brunson has teamed up with Specsavers to help people with hearing loss reconnect with friends and family.
Is your relationship suffering in silence?
There are so many ways that changes in your hearing can affect your relationship.
One woman wrote in to Paul about her relationship with her 57-year-old husband and how his increased use of 'what?' in response to everything she says was driving a wedge between them.
Paul explains: 'This is a shared frustration for the two of you; both of your feelings are valid and deserve to be explored together as partners.'
He suggests getting their hearing checked together so that they work as a team on finding better ways to communicate with each other.
Another woman contacted Paul because she loves time watching TV with her boyfriend, but has recently been frustrated by him turning up the volume too high.
Paul answers: 'As someone who deeply cherishes the shared experience of a TV programme with my wife and teenagers, I completely understand these differences.'
He suggests acknowledging that subtitles might not be the answer today, but could be something to explore in the future. In the meantime, a hearing check could show that a hearing device is a simple solution.
He explained: 'It could be the happy medium that lets you both remain present, make it easier to communicate and enjoy your quality time together.'
The social struggle
One of the key friction points for relationships is social situations. One woman wrote to Paul that she was avoiding going out because she often missed parts of conversations due to background noise, and that this was frustrating her husband.
She said: 'It's really hard to hear what people say. I end up guessing and trying to make the appropriate response, but sometimes I get it wrong and feel a little bit stupid.'
Paul says: 'Social settings like restaurants and bars can be some of the hardest places to hear clearly and it's far more common than people realise.'
He suggests a gentle and honest conversation with her husband about how the situation makes her feel.
It's not just romantic partners who feel the strain. One woman contacted Paul to say that she felt her mum was withdrawing during noisy family meals, and not getting involved in the conversation.
Paul explains: 'It's not uncommon to have trouble hearing a conversation when there's so much ongoing noise. Perhaps everyone might be willing to try a 'pass the microphone' gesture around the table.'
He also suggests having a private conversation with her mother to suggest a hearing check, and reiterate that everyone misses her input at the table.
It's time to reconnect
Paul's advice comes as Specsavers shares new research which shows the impact hearing loss can have on your relationship. This found that 67 per cent of British couples believe 'feeling listened to and truly heard' is the most important way to stay connected.
Specsavers offers free hearing checks in stores across the UK, with one of its hearing experts.
The hearing experts at Specsavers offer a whole range of modern and discreet hearing devices that can help people reconnect. The Specsavers' own brand Advance 65 hearing aid, with sophisticated AI technology, may be a particular help for couples, as it has the ability to: filter background noise, prioritise speech, and enhance sound clarity to ensure conversations with your partner remain a priority.
If a hearing device is the best option for you, the experts at Specsavers will talk you through options, and with today's advanced and discreet designs, you're sure to find something that works for you.
Some use artificial intelligence to help pick out speech in busy environments, while integrated Bluetooth technology means you can connect your device directly to your mobile phone.
Each device is fitted and programmed to your specific needs; you'll be shown how to use it before leaving the store, with aftercare for any fine-tuning needed once you've tried it out.
With one in five British couples feeling increasingly disconnected the longer they've been together, a simple hearing check could make all the difference.
The Redknapps' secret to a happy marriage
They've been married for 57 years, so Harry and Sandra Redknapp certainly have a few tips to share about making a relationship work.
The former West Ham and Tottenham manager says: 'I think it's fair to say that every family has their worries, but it's so important to stick together and get on with it.'
Sandra adds: 'Never go to bed on an argument! And have lots of patience.'
The couple recently faced their own challenges when Harry was struggling with his hearing.
'The first thing I started to notice was constantly having to repeat myself,' explains Sandra.
Harry adds: 'I think the worst ones are when I’m upstairs and Sandra’s downstairs shouting me to do something. I think we counted that I said ‘what?’ about eight times once!'
Sandra noticed that sometimes at dinners in big groups Harry wasn’t catching what people were saying and Harry himself decided to go for a hearing check after having to ask people to repeat themselves when he appeared on TV programmes.
Following his hearing check, they found out that Harry’s hearing had changed, and a hearing device would be the best option for him.
He explains: ‘I think I was conscious at first and I didn’t really want to wear hearing aids. But they’re very different now - the modern ones - and so many people wear them now and they’re a lot more subtle than they used to be.’
His advice to anyone who feels like their hearing may not be as good as it once was?
‘Get it done for sure. More people than you realise are wearing hearing aids now and no one takes any notice of it anymore.’
Sandra seconds that advice.
‘Our communication has improved so much since Harry got hearing aids,’ she says. ‘No more shouting up the stairs eight times!’