Can't hear called party when they pick up phone to answer.

Started having a problem tonight when I called another party they mentioned to me that they said hello 4 times before I heard the first hello.  Has anyone else seen this issue??  I have continued to have that people can't hear me when I answer an inbound call for about 3-4 hellos, so this is a new twist on an age old issue that I have been having and I was told it is the node I am on.