Watching your favorite show at the end of a long day or a movie with your family on the weekend can be challenging for those with hearing loss. Fortunately, advances in modern listening technology have made it possible to enjoy your television easily, even with hearing loss.
Should I Wear My Hearing Aids While Watching TV?
Yes, it’s a great idea to wear your hearing aids while watching TV. Taking your hearing aids out to watch TV might cause you to turn the volume up, and therefore, the loud noise of the TV can exacerbate your own hearing loss and expose your family members to noise-induced hearing loss, as well. Hearing aids can help your TV-watching experience by making the sound of the television clearer and reducing distracting background noise, all without blasting the volume. Instead, you can manage the television volume for your personal listening experience by turning the volume up or down on your hearing aid.
Tips for Watching TV with Hearing Aids
- Turn on noise cancelling. If your hearing aids have noise-cancelling functionality, turn this on while watching TV to cut down on distractions and invasive noise, decreasing your need to turn the volume up.
- Program your hearing aids for watching TV. Ask your hearing healthcare provider to help you develop a program setting in your hearing aids specifically for watching TV.
- Turn on subtitles. Even with your hearing aids in, you may find being able to read speech as well as hear it beneficial. All TVs should come with closed captioning options.
- Check your TV settings. Your TV has an audio section where you can find valuable controls to improve the sound. Review your television manual and play around with these settings.
Stream TV Audio Directly to Your Hearing Aids
Many modern headphones come with Bluetooth® technology, which allows your hearing aids to wirelessly connect to other electronic devices, such as your phone, tablet or TV. Activate the Bluetooth feature on your hearing aids, then access your TV’s settings menu and locate the Bluetooth connection options. Pair the two devices to enjoy the television audio streamed directly to your hearing aids.
Another option for streaming audio directly to your hearing aid is the telecoil. The telecoil in your hearing aid functions much like a radio antenna: it picks up signals from a loop system broadcast over an area. This technology is older than Bluetooth, but it is still functional.
You can also check out TV connectivity devices developed by your hearing aid manufacturer. These devices are designed specifically to work with your TV and your hearing aid to deliver an enjoyable watching experience.
Discuss With Your Audiologist
Talk with your hearing health professional about your TV-watching preferences and how you can fine-tune the audio for the most enjoyment. They’ll know how to adjust your settings, and they can tell you more about the features of your hearing aids and the accessories available to you. Call Southwestern Hearing & Balance today!