Hearing loss can make it hard to distinguish between different notes or instruments. While this can be troubling for those who play in bands and enjoy attending shows at The Rialto Theatre, there is a simple solution. Hearing aids can help you hear the subtle sounds you have been missing, but they take some fine-tuning to get right.
Why Amplifying Music Is Complicated
Only recently have hearing aid manufacturers figured out how to program their devices to work well with music. Hearing aids were designed to amplify speech, which usually falls within the volume range of 30 to 85 decibels. Because music has a wider range of volume and frequency, many of the key notes fall outside of the standard conversation range that the hearing aid is programmed for. This means that the higher- and lower-pitched sounds that are not commonly found in speech are difficult for the hearing aids to amplify.
Newer hearing aids contain programs specifically designed to optimize music.
Hearing Aid Music Programs
Most newer hearing aids contain several different programs that are created to work in specific environments. If you find yourself in a complex listening situation, simply use your remote or smartphone app to change the programming on your hearing aid to better fit the environment.
If you find you are not hearing music well enough, talk to your audiologist. They can work with you to put together a specific music program for your hearing aid.
Listening Situations
In addition to hearing aids having trouble amplifying the wide range of musical notes, music listening situations are often more challenging with the additional background noise. Listening to music in the comfort of your home is very different than being at a live show.
Volume Control
While it may seem counterintuitive, turning the volume up on your hearing aids will not help you hear the music any better. Because music has a wide dynamic range, all this will do is cause the music to sound distorted and may even put your ears at risk of additional damage.
To learn more about updating your hearing aid programming to improve your music listening experience or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, contact Arizona Hearing Specialists today.