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If you’ve ever walked through Gage Park on a windy day in Topeka while wearing hearing aids, you know how annoying wind noise can be. Thankfully, there are several steps you can take to minimize the effect wind has on hearing aids.
How Wind Can Cause Problems for Hearing Aid Users
Wind noise has long been an issue for hearing aid users. Windy days create turbulence as they breeze past your hearing aid’s microphone. This can create a loud noise, making it difficult to listen to the sounds you need and want to hear.
While some users choose to take out their hearing aids on windy days, that also creates problems. Hearing aids help you feel more oriented to your surroundings and better hear important sounds around you.
BTE Hearing Aids and Wind Noise
Different models of hearing aids may be more susceptible to wind noise. In particular, behind-the-ear and receiver-in-the-canal hearing aids are more susceptible to wind noise. Models that fit entirely in the ear canal may be less affected by wind noise.
However, BTE and RIC hearing aids are popular models and are excellent choices for many due to their comfort and effectiveness for more severe degrees of hearing loss. This is why it’s essential to know how to reduce wind noise, regardless of the hearing aid model.
Three Tips to Minimize Wind Noise with Hearing Aids
Wear a hat. Hats may offer protection against wind noise if you pull them over your ears to prevent wind from entering the microphone. Just ensure it fits well and isn’t too loose that it rubs against your hearing aids, causing additional feedback.
Use hearing aid accessories. Things like hearing aid sleeves can also help reduce wind noise. They are thin elastic covers that go over your hearing aids to help block the wind and protect your device from sweat if you are exercising outside. Windscreens can also be attached to BTE models to minimize wind noise as well.
Upgrade your hearing aid technology. If you’re looking for a more high-tech solution to the wind problem, consider upgrading your hearing aids to a newer model. They are better at reducing wind noise while still allowing you to hear speech and other sounds. Some hearing aids have wind noise reduction programs that can react to changes in wind levels and adjust your hearing aids automatically to provide better sound quality without irritating sounds.
For more information or to schedule an appointment today, call Topeka Ear Nose & Throat.