Audiologists LOVE directional microphones!
If you have had discussions about purchasing hearing aids, directional microphones may have come up in their recommendations. So, what are directional microphones? Put simply, hearing aids do NOT cure hearing loss and do NOT provide normal hearing. This is because our hearing and speech understanding system is highly evolved and complex.
Simply turning up and matching the sounds to your hearing loss does not necessarily mean you will hear conversation as well as you did before. In actual fact, this can sometimes cause distortion and loudness discomfort for the listener, especially in crowded situations like cafes and restaurants.
Simply turning up and matching the sounds to your hearing loss does not necessarily mean you will hear conversation as well as you did before.
Directional Microphones in hearing aids is nothing new.
The technology has been around for decades. It is based on the simple idea that, as we tend to face the people we want to listen to, it makes perfect sense to turn up the sounds in front of us and turn down the chatter from behind and beside us when in a noisy situation. It is a simple and elegant solution and works very well in crowded situations.
Of course, over the past 20 or so years, the technology has moved in leaps and bounds. We now have directional systems that are fully automatic and can zoom in and out, as well as change directions of focus as it monitors the sound environment through sophisticated Artificial intelligence. These systems try to mimic the way our brains effortlessly filter out background noise and focus on the person we want to listen to.
Directional Microphones in hearing aids is nothing new.
Ability Hearing and Balance is an independent, Tasmanian owned hearing clinic located across Tasmania. We fit all brands of hearing aids and pride ourselves on transparency and integrity. Our pricing is often thousands of dollars cheaper than the big chains so consider supporting a local small business. Directional hearing aids are available across all budget levels and may be fully subsidised under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program – eligibility and conditions apply. Contact us on 1300 EAR PRO (1300 327 776) to see why our clients choose to trust us with their hearing needs.
