Hearing aids provide many benefits, but on a windy day, they may seem useless. Keep reading to learn more about how wind can affect hearing aids.
Hearing Aids vs. Wind
Ask any hearing aid wearing person what annoys them most about wearing their hearing aids outside and most will undoubtedly say, “Wind noise!”. Wind noise is a common issue experienced by those who wear hearing aids, and especially by those who lead an active lifestyle and enjoy being outdoors. Wind noise can disrupt the optimal use of hearing aids by creating listening discomfort and making speech hard to understand.
In the battle between hearing aids and wind noise, wind noise wins every time. While there are some technological advancements in hearing aids that can lessen the impact of wind noise, there is no upgrade that can fully eliminate it. Wind noise continues to be an annoyance to hearing aid wearing people as approximately 42% of hearing aid wearers report dissatisfaction with their hearing aids’ performance in windy conditions.
So, why does wind cause such an issue and what can be done about it?
How Wind Negatively Impacts Hearing Aids
Imagine sitting in a noisy restaurant with a group of friends. Everyone is having a great time, but trying to hold and contribute to a meaningful conversation under these circumstances is almost impossible. The effects of a noisy restaurant on your ability to hear is very similar to the effects of a windy day on a hearing aid wearer.
Surprisingly, wind obstructs hearing in people who have perfect hearing and do not wear hearing aids. In fact, those with near perfect hearing can only understand about 80% of the speech directed towards them in a windy or noisy environment. Therefore, those who do wear hearing aids can definitely expect to have some hearing difficulty in windy situations.
Wind presents a unique challenge to those who wear hearing aids. Wind causes turbulence around the microphones of a hearing aid resulting in background noise. This background noise inhibits hearing and greatly reduces the clarity of the sounds that can be heard. If you’re outside walking with another person on a windy day, the wind noise will greatly inhibit your hearing and the ability to have a conversation.
What Can Be Done About Wind Noise?
As mentioned, getting rid of wind noise completely is not possible with any hearing aid. However, newer hearing aid technology does offer a few enhancements to decrease wind noise as much as possible. Most hearing aids have more than one type of microphone, directional and omni-directional, which work together to automatically optimize sound and lessen wind and background noise.
Some hearing aids offer wind management features which work to process incoming noise quickly and make instant adjustments for the best listening experience. These enhanced offerings are not available on every type of hearing aid, and again, are not guaranteed to work in every situation.
There are some steps you can take as a hearing aid wearer to improve your hearing on a windy day and to keep your hearing aids in top shape after experiencing a windy day. Here are a few ways to protect your hearing on a gusty day outdoors:
- Invest in some wind protectors: Many hearing aids come with special covers known as wind protectors that can be placed over the hearing aid to reduce the effect of wind noise. These protectors are also readily available to buy online and are simple to install and use on windy days.
- Clean your hearing aids regularly: Windy days means more dust and debris that can get caught in your hearing aid components. After being outside on a windy day, use a soft, dry cloth to wipe down the outside of your hearing aids. Protecting the parts of your hearing aids will result in clearer hearing the next time you wear them outside.
- Wear a hat: This seems like too simple of a solution, but it can really help with hearing on a windy day. When pulled down over the hearing aids, a hat can help keep hearing aids in place as well as diffuse the wind before it enters your hearing aids.
- Dehumidify hearing aids: Moisture can be an issue on windy, rainy days and it’s important to keep your hearing aids as dry as possible. Many hearing aids come with a dehumidifier container which will protect the components of your hearing aid from moisture damage.
Although wind noise can never be fully eliminated for hearing aid wearers, it can be reduced some. Keeping your hearing aids clean and moisture will go a long way in hearing the sounds and conversation around you.
Reach out to Hearing Solution Centers today for all of your hearing aid needs!