When you are suffering from hearing loss, background noise can make understanding your friends and family members extremely difficult.
With that in mind, we’ve put together 5 tips on how to reduce background noise so you can better enjoy conversations with loved ones!
1. Choose Hearing Aids with Directional Microphone Technology
Choosing the right hearing aid for your hearing loss is key in getting a great hearing experience. And one choice you’ll have to make when shopping for the right device is what features you want.
If background noise is an issue for you—for example, if you have a lot of trouble hearing in loud areas, like restaurants—we highly recommend a hearing aid equipped with directional microphone technology, like our HearClear HCRD Rechargeable Hearing Aid.
Directional microphones localize sound, making it easier for you to tune out background noise and focus on what’s important: your conversation partner.
Whether you are having dinner with a friend or talking to your grandchild at a birthday party, directional microphones will help you better understand the words he or she is saying while filtering out unwanted sounds around you.
2. Learn How to Use Your Hearing Aids
Once you have the right hearing aid, it is important that you learn how to use the device’s included features and settings.
Many advanced hearing aids allow you to adjust the volume as well as change your hearing settings to suit a variety of environments. For example, many hearing aids include a setting specifically for watching television.
Take some time to get to know your hearing aids. Read the manual. Look up information on how to best use the hearing aids online. Experiment with the settings and volume to find out what works best for you.
If you don’t learn when and how to use your device’s features, you won’t enjoy the full benefits of wearing your hearing aid.
3. Pay Attention to Faces
Learn to pay close attention to faces when people talk. Many hearing loss sufferers find it easier to understand someone if they are watching them speak.
You may be able to understand a word that you would have missed by reading the shape of a person’s lips, by the expression on their face, or by the gestures they make when they converse with you.
4. Be Mindful of Your Surroundings
If you have trouble hearing in noisy areas, be mindful of that fact when you go out with friends and family members.
If you are going to a restaurant, for example, request a table in a quiet area, which usually means an area away from the kitchen or other areas of activity. That way, you won’t struggle as much to hear your tablemate.
In addition, you’ll want to dine in restaurants that have good lighting so that you can take advantage of the tip above and watch your fellow diners’ expressions. If your conversation partner is easily visible, it will aid in communication.
Also, when you can, try to choose activities that don’t make hearing difficult. For example, instead of bowling, go for a peaceful walk in the woods at your local park with your loved ones or visit a museum for some quiet entertainment.
5. Reduce Noise Pollution in Your Home
You can help make conversations in your home easier by reducing noise pollution. You can help limit noise pollution during conversations by:
- Turning off the television when it’s not in use.
- Turning off music when you aren’t actively listening to it.
- Shutting open windows and doors to limit noise pollution from outside the room.
- Moving conversations away from spaces in your home that may produce noise. Air conditioners or refrigerators may hum or kick on and off during discussions.
6. Ask for Help
Communication is a two-way street and it is important for the people around you to know that you are having problems hearing so they can better accommodate you.
Ask for help from your family and friends. A friend or family member can help you by:
- Looking at you when speaking so you can observe his or her face.
- Enunciating words clearly.
- Talking slowly.
- Repeating words or sentences that you have trouble understanding.
- Give you his or her full attention.
There are a variety of ways to reduce background noise and enhance your hearing experience, and we are here to help.
We are aware that background noise makes hearing and understanding incredibly difficult for those with hearing loss. That’s why we provide a variety of affordable hearing aids with features and settings that help to reduce background noise.
If you have questions about the best hearing aids for reducing background noise, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Advanced Affordable Hearing team at 1 (800) 804-0434.