Audiologist addresses MAFS UK star Alex's behaviour during heated confrontation with Ross as deaf fan makes important point

Amid fan concern that deaf MAFS UK contestant Ross McCarthy may be struggling to keep up with several of the series' fiery spats, a certified audiologist has issued some advice to his controversial co-star Alex Henry.

Earlier this week, the Channel 4 stars clashed in a heated row about Alex's recent allegedly 'misogynistic' behaviour - though the interaction left several viewers worried about Ross.

Ever since entering the romantic experiment along with wife Holly as a new addition, Alex has faced criticism from almost every single one of his co-stars - most recently with co-star couple Ross and his wife Sacha Jones.

Firstly, Alex and Sacha butted-heads when she called him out of his potentially harmful attitude towards several of the women in the group.

And in the days that followed, the pair fell out again after Alex made a bombshell comment about having more money than her - including by branding the bracelet she'd recently been gifted by Ross 'fake'.

Heartbroken, Sacha reported the row to Ross - who'd been absent at the time - who thankfully jumped to her defence, embroiling himself in an even more heated row with Alex.

Names were thrown, voices were raised and Ross even stormed off.

And now one sound expert has had her say on the spat, claiming that - despite emotions running high - improper care when confronting deaf contestant Ross can be detrimental.

The pair became embroiled in a spat earlier this week (Channel 4)

Addressing Alex and Ross' recent row in particular, Sonia LaLeta - an audiologist from Manchester University - has told Tyla: "In moments of conflict, there’s a heightened need for sensitivity when communicating with a deaf individual.

"Ideally, Alex should have ensured Ross could clearly see him and refrained from interrupting, as lip-reading during arguments is more difficult.

"Speaking slowly and avoiding sudden, overlapping comments would have made it easier for Ross to follow and respond.

"This approach is about respect and understanding, helping avoid any potential misunderstandings that can arise in such intense exchanges."

LaLeta's vital advice comes just days after one fan of the hit reality show heaped praise onto Sacha for her approach to on-screen confrontations.

Taking to Reddit last week after Sacha told Ross of her disappointment that he didn't support her following her own original spat with Alex, one unnamed viewer penned: "As a Deaf person myself, I’m really really impressed with how Sacha, even in the midst of an argument, and extremely upset, was still making sure she communicated clearly with Ross.

One audiologist has spoken out (Channel 4)

"[She] faced him directly, enunciated her speech, not overly shouting (which distorts the sound and lipreading making it much harder to understand) used gesture to help communicate her words.

"It really speaks very highly of her empathy and awareness, and how she wasn’t going to allow any miscommunication to exacerbate the situation more than it already was."

Now, issuing her advice to potential contestants going forward, audiologist LaLeta said it is vital to cater to the needs to those with hearing impairments.

"To support Ross, those in the room could adopt some basic communication adjustments," she told us, as well as providing a list of suggestions.

• One speaker at a time: People could take turns speaking, allowing Ross to focus on one person and one set of visual cues at a time.
• Direct eye contact and clear visual signalling: Anyone wanting to speak should try to establish eye contact with Ross or raise a hand to visually cue that they are about to speak.
• Pausing for clarification: After a statement, others should pause to allow Ross time to seek clarification if needed, fostering an inclusive and slower-paced interaction.
• Repeating or summarising key points: Reiterating major points for clarity would help Ross stay engaged and maintain the flow of conversation.