Nowadays, the mobile phone network is much more dependable (and there’s a lot less static involved). But that doesn’t mean everybody can hear you all the time. And for individuals who have hearing loss, it can be particularly challenging.
There must be a simple fix for that, right? Why not use a set of hearing aids to make your phone conversations a little easier? Well, that isn’t… exactly… how it works. Even though hearing aids can help with conversations, with phone conversations it can be a bit more difficult. But there are definitely some things you can do to make your phone conversations more effective.
Why hearing aids and phone calls don’t always get along
Hearing loss normally advances slowly. Your hearing usually doesn’t just go. It tends to go in bits and pieces. It’s likely that you won’t even notice you have hearing loss and your brain will attempt to utilize contextual and visual clues to compensate.
So when you get on a phone, all of that contextual data is gone. Your Brain doesn’t have the information it requires to fill in the blanks. You only hear parts and pieces of the other person’s voice which sounds muffled and distorted.
How hearing aids can be helpful
Hearing aids can help with this. Many of those missing pieces can be filled in by using hearing aids. But talking on the phone with hearing aids can introduce some accessibility problems.
Feedback can happen when your hearing aids come close to a phone, for instance. This can lead to some awkward gaps in conversation because you can’t hear very well.
Tips to augment the phone call experience
So, what can you do to address the obstacles of using a phone with hearing aids? Most hearing specialists will recommend a few tips:
- Download a video call app: Face-timing somebody or jumping onto a video chat can be a great way to help you hear better. It’s not that the sound quality is magically better, it’s that your brain has access to all of that amazing visual information again. And this can help you add context to what’s being talked about.
- Find a quiet spot to carry out your phone calls. It will be a lot easier to hear the voice on the other end if there’s less noise. Your hearing aids will be much more effective by decreasing background noise.
- Don’t conceal your hearing trouble from the individual you’re talking to: It’s all right to admit if you’re having trouble! You might simply need to be a little more patient, or you may want to consider switching to text, email, or video chat.
- Put your phone in speaker mode as frequently as possible: This will prevent the most serious feedback. Your phone conversations might not be very private, but even though there still might be a little distortion, you should be able to better make out the voice on the other end. Knowing how to better hold your phone with hearing aids (that is, away from your ears) is crucial, and speakerphone is how you accomplish this!
- Connect your phone to your hearing aid using Bluetooth. Yes, contemporary hearing aids can stream to your smartphone using Bluetooth! This means that if your hearing aids are Bluetooth enabled, phone calls can be streamed right to your phone. This can get rid of feedback and make your phone calls a bit more private, so it’s a good place to start if you’re having trouble on your phone.
- Hearing aids aren’t the only assistive hearing device you can use: Devices, including numerous text-to-type services, are available to help you hear better during phone conversations.
Finding the best set of solutions will depend on what you use the phone for, how frequently you’re on the phone, and what your overall communication needs are like. With the correct approach, you’ll have the resources you require to begin enjoying those phone conversations once again.
If you need more guidance on how to use hearing aids with your phone, call us, we can help.
