Remote work and video conferencing are more common than ever. If you wear hearing aids, here are a few tips to make sure you get the most out of virtual work meetings.
Use Bluetooth®
Approximately 28.8 million U.S adults could benefit from hearing aids. Many hearing aids can connect directly to your phone, computer or tablet via Bluetooth, which will allow you to stream the video call directly through your hearing aids. If your hearing aid does not have Bluetooth, there are devices that will allow you to connect your hearing aids to your computer for direct streaming.
Check on Your Connection
A good internet connection is essential to a successful video call. If there’s a lag because of a slow connection, it can make it difficult for anyone to understand what other people are saying.
Caption Your Call
Many video conferencing programs like Zoom offer live captioning during video calls, allowing you to read what’s being said in real-time.
Download Speak to Text Apps
If live captioning is not available on your video call software, speech-to-text apps are another option. These apps use automatic speech recognition to transcribe videos.
Be Open About Your Hearing Loss
Let people you’re meeting with know you have hearing loss. This also gives you the chance to share tips for how to communicate more effectively with you during video calls.
Reduce Background Noise
Minimize background noise in your own environment so you can focus on the conversation.
Make an Appointment with an Audiologist
During maintenance appointments, your audiologist can make sure your hearing aid is working as it should, allowing you to better connect with sounds during virtual and in-person meetings. Get in touch with Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery today to schedule an appointment.
“Have always found the staff and doctors here to be helpful. This was my first visit with Dr. Prze after Dr. Allan retired, and he was very friendly, enthusiastic, and thorough. It was obvious he had read my chart carefully before my checkup.”