Headphones & Hearing Aids

If you are a music lover, you will be eager to get hearing aids as soon as they are necessary. With hearing aids in place, you can return to enjoyment of the full spectrum of sound, noticing each feature of your favorite music. Wearing hearing aids at a concert is a great way to experience the richness of music, and you might wear your hearing aids at home to better pick up on the range of sound in home audio, as well. Many music lovers enjoy wearing headphones for the rich stereo sound they provide, as well as sonic isolation from the surrounding world. If you are someone who loves to listen to music with headphones and has hearing loss, then you might be concerned with their compatibility. Finding the right headphones to meet your needs can be a difficult process, but with a little trial and error you can find headphones that meet your needs. One of the best options today is to use Bluetooth connectivity to sync with your devices. In addition, there are some headphones that can work with hearing aids if you take the time to try out multiple pairs and to get your settings just right. Let’s take a closer look!

Bluetooth Connectivity

Although you might be predisposed to over-the-ear headphones, the latest hearing aids can double as wireless earbuds. Through the use of Bluetooth connectivity, these hearing aids can stream music, as well as other media including audiobooks, podcasts, and videos, directly to your aids. Not only can these aids work as headphones, but they also receive your smartphone notifications and phone calls. When you listen to music through your hearing aids, you can also switch to ambient sound from the environment when necessary. This combination of hearing assistance and media streaming makes it possible to augment your environment in a way that maintains your safety, particularly when you’re out on-the-go. Some people find that the audio quality from Bluetooth meets their needs for listening to music and other media, so you might want to begin by exploring your hearing aid options before looking for other headphones that will work in combination. 

Over-the-Ear Headphones

Some music lovers are looking for a true audiophile experience in their headphones, and they sometimes struggle to integrate hearing aids. Some people with hearing loss attempt to remove their hearing aids, wear over-the-ear headphones, and turn up the volume to a louder level than usual. Although raising the volume on music can make it audible, it will not account for the differences in hearing ability by frequency. Most people with hearing loss have more ability in some ranges of sound than others. They might be able to hear bass tones while finding treble more difficult to sense. For these people, raising the volume on headphones will disproportionately transform the sonic profile of music, making certain frequencies much too loud and others relatively quiet. Wearing hearing aids beneath over-the-ear headphones can be a good solution. Although some over-the-ear headphones cover the entirety of hearing aids, others can fit uncomfortably, particularly for those who wear behind-the-ear hearing aids. If you have the opportunity to visit an electronics store, you can try out the options they have available in person. Finding the right fit is the key to integrating your hearing aids with headphones. You can also purchase a variety of headphones with the intention to return the devices that do not integrate with your hearing devices. In general, you will want to find headphones that fit completely over your ears and hearing aids at the same time. You might find that you want to turn down the volume on your hearing aids somewhat, while keeping them enabled to equalize your listening experience. 

With a little trial-and-error, you should have no problem finding headphones that integrate with your hearing aids. If you are interested in exploring Bluetooth options in your aids, don’t hesitate to give our offices a call. We can give you guidance on the Bluetooth listening capabilities of your existing aids, or we can talk with you about the benefits of getting new hearing aids with Bluetooth connectivity if you’re ready to take the plunge.