According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “In 2019, 7.1% of adults aged 45 and over used a hearing aid.” If you’re among the population who wears a hearing aid in 2023, you may be wondering how you can make the most of certain listening experiences, like enjoying podcasts. We review tips for this below.
Connect Via Bluetooth®
If your hearing aids have Bluetooth compatibility, you can ideally listen to podcasts by streaming the audio from your device directly to your ears. To connect your device to your hearing aids, follow these steps:
- Restart your hearing aids to set them to pair, then place them near your smartphone or tablet.
- Go to your phone or tablet’s settings and select Bluetooth. Make sure it’s turned on.
- Select your hearing aids from the list of available devices.
- Wait a few moments for the devices to connect.
Wear Noise-Cancelling Headphones
If your hearing aids do not have Bluetooth capabilities or you’re not able to connect for some reason, you can instead invest in over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones from Best Buy on Virginia Street. These block out background noise so you can hear your media clearly without having to crank up the volume and cause further damage to your hearing.
Choose the Right Podcasts
Longer-standing, more established podcasts usually have better sound quality than newer ones. Additionally, podcasts with just one host may be a little easier to follow along with than a podcast with multiple hosts or guests where people talk over each other. Scripted podcasts may also be clearer to listen to.
Use Captions or Find Scripts
Though most podcasts and podcast apps do not offer captions, a few do. If you’re using an Android™ phone or Google Chrome to listen, you can find live captions for any audio. Also, some podcasts post videos of their recordings on YouTube, many of which are captioned.
If you use an Apple® phone or a different browser, you can alternatively look for podcasts that offer transcripts, such as This American Life, S-Town, StoryCorps, Freakonomics and more.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call LeMay Hearing & Balance today.