Americans are spending more time at home than ever before. With that comes an increase in television watching. But this activity can be challenging for those with hearing loss, especially with distracting soundtracks and background noise making the dialogue hard to understand.
Below is a list of solutions that will allow you to enjoy your favorite shows once again.
Sound Bars
These beautifully designed speakers are meant to be mounted just above or below your television set. They connect to your television’s speaker and provide the audience with a movie theater-like experience. Sound bars are able to mimic surround sound you get by placing multiple speakers around your room, but for less money and real estate.
Sound bars can also easily connect to wireless subwoofers. These can be placed somewhere else in the room to deliver low-end bass, which is similar to the rumble feeling from a passing truck.
Wireless Headphones
If you are watching a program alone, why not give yourself an immersive experience. Wireless over-ear headphones utilize Bluetooth technology to connect to a specially designed television transmitter or directly to newer TVs.
Wireless headphones give you complete control over the volume. Their over-ear style helps drown out any background noise from around your house, allowing you to listen to the television at a safe volume. In addition, you can watch TV without disturbing anyone else in your home.
Hearing Loop System
If you are using a hearing aid to treat your hearing loss, you may be able to connect your devices to your television. Bluetooth enables hearing aids can wirelessly connect to a small transmitter box, which plugs right into your television.
Not only can you adjust the volume right from your hearing aids, but you can easily switch between the TV and audio from your smartphone, such as an incoming call.
For older hearing aids, you can utilize a hearing loop system, also known as audio induction loops. A hearing loop is powered by a wireless magnetic field generated by a hub plugged into the audio jack on your television. The television audio can then be picked up by a loop worn around your neck, connected to your hearing aid.
Closed Captioning
If improving your television’s audio is not providing enough help, consider turning on the closed captioning. Since 2006, all television programs are required to display audio cues as text on the screen. These captions must match the spoken words and background noise, coincide with the spoken words, run the entire length of the program and be placed so they don’t block important visual information on the screen or run off the edge of the screen.
Your hearing loss does not need to stand in the way of your favorite television program. To learn more about living well with hearing loss, contact the experts at Waco Ear, Nose & Throat today.
