Hearing Aids And Headphones
You should be able to get headphones that work with your hearing aids, or, consult with Hearing Spa of Florida Audiologists about getting hearing aids that will work with headphones. The two issues facing those with hearing aids who want to use headphones are getting something that works around the hardware of your devices and getting headphones that will work if you have tinnitus. Tinnitus, a ringing in the ears, is sometimes an unfortunate sidelight of hearing loss and while hearing devices control it – using headphones and trying to hear over the ringing can be an issue.
Listening to music using headphones without your hearing aids isn’t really a good option. Cranking up the volume to compensate for hearing loss can further damage your hearing. For that matter, turning up the volume of headphones with your hearing aids is also not a good idea. Consult with an audiologist in our office for help if needed.
Some Hearing Aids Limit Options
Two of the most common types of hearing aids are behind the ear or BTE and receiver in the ear canal or RIC hearing aids. In both type models, the main components of the hearing device sit in a compartment that fits behind the ear. As you might imagine, this can make it difficult to get a pair of headphones that have a good fit.
Headphones with BTE models can be especially difficult because the microphone for the hearing devices that picks up sound is outside the ear canal. So, a good headphone model for those hearing aids would be one that fits over the ear and sits at a reasonable distance from the hearing aid microphone. It is recommended that the headphone speakers be about one centimeter or a little bit more, from the microphone in your hearing aid to get good sound quality.
They do make roomy headphones that will accommodate your hearing aids and this suggestion!
If you have issues with ambient noise and your hearing aids, you might want to pick noise canceling headphones. Test them first – some noise canceling headphones have a faint “hiss” and some hearing aids pick that up. There are some noise cancelling headphones that function through a Bluetooth adapter or through an audio cable which comes with the device. Some headphones come with a noise cancelling function that you can turn on or off. If you have in-the-ear hearing aids that sit in the bowl of your ear, over the ear headphones are your best bet, also.
In-The-Canal Hearing Aids And Headphones
A lot of in-the-canal hearing aid users can use on ear or over the ear headphones. On-ear headphones are usually lighter and more portable, which is nice. And since they are lighter, users find them quite comfortable. One drawback, however, is if they don’t fit tight enough you do get some ambient noise seepage.
There are a lot of options and the sound quality is quite good. Try and find a store that has several models that you can try out to find one that works best for you.
If you wear the invisible or totally in-the-canal hearing aid, you’ve got lots of options. And, you can even use earbuds if you want!
You can use price as a way to narrow your options. You can even use wireless headphones if you have the in-the-canal hearing devices. The true wireless headphones don’t even have cords connecting the right and left ear buds so that can lead to a great and comfortable music listening experience.
Try Before You Buy
Consumer advocates all say the same thing when you are trying to get headphones to use with your hearing aids – try before you buy. The tonal qualities of headphones vary so if you have trouble hearing at high or low frequencies, that is going to make a difference. Headphones with a higher bass rating might be great for you if you have hearing loss at lower frequencies. If you have issues with conversational tones, then you want headphones that have great range in the mid-range area.
A word of caution from the Academy of Doctors of Audiology – don’t splurge on high-fidelity headphones because with hearing aids you won’t get the full benefit from the device and it’s a waste of money.
Hearing Spa of Florida can help with accessories you may want to try with your hearing devices. The first thing, of course, is to make sure your hearing aids are correcting your hearing. If you haven’t gotten a hearing test in some time – or you haven’t had a hearing evaluation – today is the day to call.
