Windy days can be a nightmare for people with hearing aids. Whether you’re on a short walk around your neighborhood or enjoying a bit of nature at Muriel Hepner Nature Park, let’s look at a few of the ways you can minimize the effect of wind on your hearing aids.
Why Does Wind Cause Problems for Hearing Aid Users?
Strong winds can cause the microphone in your hearing aid to vibrate, which creates an irritating whooshing sound that can be hard to ignore and make it difficult to focus on other sounds.
Some hearing aid users opt to take their devices off during windy days. However, that is never a good solution. You should be wearing your hearing aids during all waking hours (unless bathing, swimming or otherwise submerged in water). Taking them out could cause you to miss out on important sounds or not be able to make out what those you are with are saying.
BTE Hearing Aids May Be More Susceptible to Wind Noise
Certain models, like behind-the-ear and receiver-in-the-canal hearing aids, are more susceptible to wind noise. If you live in a particularly windy environment, consider in-the-ear (ITE) models, as they are less susceptible to wind noise.
However, behind-the-ear and receiver-in-the-canal models are both very popular, comfortable and work better for people with all types of hearing loss, including more severe cases. So, it’s important to figure out ways to minimize wind noise for all hearing aid models.
Three Ways to Minimize Wind Noise in Hearing Aids
- Wear a hat. This is a simple solution, but one that may offer some protection against wind noise if you pull it over your ears to prevent wind from entering the microphone. Just make sure 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 as well as 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 quickly. 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.
To learn more about your hearing aid options or to schedule an appointment with one of our experts, contact Speech & Hearing Associates today.