How to Hear Better in Noisy Places: Tips for Restaurants, Pubs & Busy Social Situations
If you are living with hearing loss, busy environments such as restaurants, pubs, cafes and parties can make conversations much harder to follow. Background noise, several people talking at once, and poor room acoustics can make it difficult to tune in to the voices you want to hear.
There are many simple things you can do to make hearing in noisy environments easier. From choosing where you sit, to using a wireless microphone with compatible hearing aids, there are practical ways to improve your listening experience.
Why is it so difficult to hear in noisy environments?
Even with the use of hearing aids, noisy environments can be a particular challenge for deaf and hard of hearing people.
In a quiet room, it might be relatively easy to focus and tune in to one person's voice. In a busy restaurant or pub however, your hearing aids are dealing with lots of competing sounds at the same time.
While many modern hearing aids do have excellent technology to help with the signal-to-noise ratio, noisy environments do still present a challenge. For people with hearing loss, the additional concentration required in noisy places can be extremely tiring.
7 simple ways to hear better in busy places
Before reaching for additional technology, there are plenty of simple things you can try that don't cost a penny.
- Choose a quieter place to sit
Where you sit can make a surprising difference. While it's not always possible, you should try to choose a table away from:
- Speakers and loud music
- Busy kitchens, bars or serving areas
- Doors and entrances
- Large groups of people
You may also find that sitting in a corner or a booth can make it easier to concentrate on the people you're talking to.
If you're visiting a restaurant, don't be afraid to ask if there's a quieter table available.
- Ask people to face you when speaking to you
Being able to see the person you're talking to can help provide useful visual information alongside what you're hearing.
For group conversations, sitting in a position where you can see as many faces as possible can make it easier to follow what's happening.
- Ask people not to talk over each other
Following several conversations at once is difficult at the best of times, let alone in a noisy environment.
If you're in a group, ask people to take turns when they're speaking rather than talking over each other. Saying something as simple as "Sorry, could everyone speak at one time? I find it much easier to follow that way" can help.
- Reduce background noise where possible
Small environment changes can make a noticeable difference. For example, you could:
- Turn down music (if you or someone you know has control over it)
- Close a door between you and a noisy area (for example, a kitchen)
- Move away from a television (in pubs for example)
- Choose a quieter café or restaurant to meet in
- Meet at quieter times of the day
You don't have to completely eliminate the background noise - but reducing it even slightly can make a huge difference.
- Let people know what works for you
Other people might not realise how much you're struggling. It can be easy to pretend you didn't hear, or give up quickly, but if someone doesn't know that you're finding the conversation difficult, then they can't help.
You might ask them to repeat themselves, speak a little more clearly, or to move somewhere quieter. Helping the people around you to understand what you need can make social situations much less tiring.
- Take a break from the noise
Listening fatigue is real. Focusing on voices in a busy environment requires a lot of concentration.
If you're becoming tired or frustrated trying to follow conversations, stepping somewhere quieter for a few minutes can give you a chance to rest.
You don't have to leave the event all together, taking a short break away can often help you return to the conversation feeling refreshed.
- Check that your hearing aids are working at their best
If you regularly struggle to hear in noisy environments, it's worth making sure that your hearing devices are clean, correctly fitted and working as they should.
Depending on your hearing aids, there may also be difference listening programmes or settings designed to help in noisy environments.
Wireless microphones for hearing in noisy places
As we said before, many modern hearing aids include features that are designed to help users hear speech in challenging environments, but even sophisticated hearing aids cannot completely eliminate all background noise.
That's where wireless microphones can be useful. While hearing aids alone rely on the microphones often worn behind your hears, a wireless mic can move the microphone closer to the speaker, helping to make their voice more prominent.
There are a range of wireless microphones available for different hearing aid manufacturers and models. The exact features and compatibility will depend on your hearing devices.
Which wireless microphone is compatible with my hearing aids?
One of the most important things to check before buying a wireless microphone is its compatibility with your hearing aids.
Not every microphone works with every hearing aid, and some setups might require additional accessories or specific connectivity options.
That's why we created My Hearing Aid.
Simply visit the site, select your hearing aid manufacturer and model to find useful information about your hearing aids including compatible accessories and products that can help in different listening situations.
Make social situations easier to navigate with hearing loss
You shouldn't have to avoid busy social situations because conversations are difficult. Sometimes the solution can be as simple as choosing a quieter table, while for others, finding the right hearing aid accessories may provide additional peace of mind.
There isn't one solution that works for everyone, the best option depends on your hearing loss, your hearing aids, the environment you're in and the types of conversations you want to have.
Small changes can always make a big difference, and the right technology can help you stay connected wherever the conversation takes you.