Are you planning to purchase a new television this holiday season, but you also have hearing loss? It’s exciting to think about watching your favorite programs on that 85” screen, but no matter what the screen size, you may be surprised to find it’s still a struggle to hear every word.
Why bigger isn’t always better.
New flatscreen 75” and 85” televisions boast beautiful pictures and have become more affordable than ever. For a few hundred dollars you can buy a television bigger than you could have imagined even 10 years ago.
Unfortunately, if you have hearing loss, bigger isn’t always better. Many people who wear hearing aids have trouble hearing their new flatscreen TVs. That’s because despite the larger size and amazing picture, new televisions have small speakers designed to fit in tight spaces. In fact, the speakers may not even be located on the front of the TV. Instead, they may be found in the back or on the sides, which means they aren’t projecting the sound into the room toward the listener. They’re projecting sound into the wall, which can muffle the audio and make it tough to understand.
In addition, many movies were originally sound engineered for movie theaters, not family rooms. That means the sound can become distorted if the movie hasn’t been re-engineered for the small screen, and most have not.
Also, some movies and programs were originally created in other countries and have been dubbed with English-speaking voices, think the classic out-of-sync Godzilla movies of the ‘50s and ‘60s. This makes it hard to understand what’s being said, especially if you rely on lip-reading.
If you try turning the volume up on your television, it can sometimes make speech sound distorted and may be even more difficult to understand. Plus, cranking the sound up on your TV may not be easy for others in the room to tolerate.
So, what’s the best solution? We have four suggestions you may find helpful.
- Turn on closed captioning. Some people don’t care for closed captioning because it obstructs some of the video, but it can improve your ability to understand spoken dialogue, plus, it’s free. Congress has required all digital televisions with screens over 13” to offer closed captioning since 2006. Since 2012, cable operators, satellite distributors and online providers also are required to provide closed captioning.
To turn closed captioning on, look for the button on your remote control with the “CC” icon. This button should allow you to turn closed captioning on and off. If you stream content from Netflix or Prime, for example, you may need to turn the closed captioning on in those apps. - Add an external sound system or a soundbar to your television to improve your listening experience. Because flatscreen televisions typically don’t have great speakers, a soundbar that projects into the room helps the audio reach your ears and if you wear hearing aids, their microphones. Costs can vary widely, depending on your budget and the type of experience you’d like, plus soundbars can make a great gift. Soundbars are available at most retailers that sell televisions or can be found online.
- If you wear hearing aids, check into a TV streaming device, like Widex TV Play or SoundAssist. The streamer wirelessly connects your television and your prescription hearing aids using a Bluetooth signal. This enables you to stream sound directly to your prescription hearing aids at a volume you enjoy while the rest of the room can listen to television at the sound level they like. You also can put the television on mute and stream sound directly to your hearing aids so that only you can hear the TV. These devices should be available from a hearing healthcare professional.
- You may also inquire if the new television you’re considering incorporates Auracast. This is a new Bluetooth feature that allows the television to stream audio to multiple audio receivers including earbuds and hearing aids. Because this is new technology, it isn’t available on all televisions and is slowly being incorporated into other technologies like hearing aids, earbuds, etc.
So, if a new big screen television is on your “wish” list and you have hearing loss, don’t be surprised if you have problems understanding the audio. If you notice you’re having problems hearing, talk with a doctoral-level audiologist about all the assistive listening options available. Your audiologist is not only an expert in prescription hearing aids and assistive listening technology, but is an expert in your hearing loss. Using your hearing profile, they can make recommendations for your specific needs, and can best explain how each type of technology works, as well as any costs involved.
