Whether you like true crime, history lessons or funky facts, podcasts can be a fun way to keep yourself entertained during a flight, long drive or while enjoying a latte at Broadway Coffeehouse.
Hearing loss doesn’t need to stop you from enjoying your favorite podcast. Simple tricks like wearing Bluetooth® hearing aids, noise-canceling headphones and choosing the right podcast can make listening fun and easy.
Let’s examine each of these tricks a little more closely.
Wearing Bluetooth Hearing Aids
In 2019, 7.1% of 45 and over adults used a hearing aid. The small but powerful devices amplify sound directly into the ear canal to make it easier to understand. Some devices even come equipped with Bluetooth technology.
Bluetooth allows content from your phone, tablet or computer to be streamed directly into your hearing aids, similar to a pair of wireless headphones.
Bluetooth hearing aids can be connected to multiple devices in a similar way to headphones:
- Reset your hearing aid. This will turn on Bluetooth pairing.
- Turn on Bluetooth in your phone, laptop or tablet’s settings menu.
- Select your hearing aids from the list of device options.
- Enjoy your newly connected devices.
Once your devices are connected, podcasts and other content can be streamed directly into your hearing aids.
Choose Noise-Canceling Over-The-Ear Headphones
If your hearing aids are not Bluetooth compatible, or you choose not to connect them, over-the-ear wireless headphones are an excellent second option.
Noise-canceling over-the-ear headphones are a great option because:
- They are safer for your ears than earbuds. Earbuds aren’t as effective at blocking sound as their over-the-ear counterparts. Background noise may cause you to raise the volume of your podcast and send hazardous noise directly into your ear canal. Over-the-ear headphones help block out sound and allow you to keep your volume at a safer level.
- They leave room for your hearing aids. Over-the-ear devices allow you to wear your hearing aids and headphones simultaneously to help you enjoy your podcasts.
Choose the Right Podcasts
Choosing the right podcast for hearing aids involves a lot of variables, but two important ones are:
- Sound quality. Not all podcasts are alike when it comes to sound. Some hosts may mumble, and some may have loud background noise or distracting sounds. Finding a podcast with clear, balanced audio will help you better understand them with hearing loss.
- Transcript availability. While you may be driving or otherwise occupied while listening to a podcast, having transcripts available will allow you to go back and clarify information that was initially unclear.
Call Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery today to discuss your hearing loss with one of our audiologists.
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