Hearing the wind rustling through crisp, Autumn leaves can be a magical experience. It can seem as though the wind is music rushing through the trees. The breeze on the back of your neck can leave you feeling alive!
Wind can definitely be exciting. That is, unless you’re one of the estimated 48 million Americans who report a level of difficulty hearing. For many, treating their hearing loss involves wearing hearing aids. And unfortunately, background noise and wind noise are some of the most frequently seen issues when wearing a hearing aid.
Many hearing aids have noise-reduction features that can help eliminate unwanted background noise. However, windy days can present problems for people with hearing aids. Even the most sophisticated hearing devices can be susceptible to unwanted noise and feedback caused by wind.
Why Does Wind Affect My Hearing Aid?
Hearing aid manufacturers have struggled to eliminate wind noise entirely, given the unpredictable nature of wind. Speed, force and direction can all vary dramatically.
This can create a problem known as “wind noise.” In fact, it’s one of the most commonly reported issues hearing aid users have.
Wind noise is the result of wind causing the microphone in the hearing aid to vibrate. This causes the wearer to experience “whooshing” noises, similar to what it sounds like when someone blows into a microphone.
For the person wearing a hearing aid, this can be an unpleasant experience. Wind noise cannot be controlled. It can also make hearing and understanding very difficult.
Wearing Hearing Aids on a Windy Day
The interruptive nature of wind noise can sometimes lead people to turn off or remove their hearing aids entirely. We advise against this – reducing your ability to hear is not a good option.
Some of the things that you can do when wearing hearing aids on a windy day include: ‘
- Hearing Aid Features / Capabilities – Check if your hearing aid devices have a feature designed for wind noise. Certain devices will have special features aimed at keeping wind noise to a minimum while enhancing other sounds. This could include certain placements of the microphone, or programming specific to windy environments. We recommend that you speak to your hearing healthcare specialists if you’d like to explore these features further.
- Style of Hearing Aid – If you live in a particularly windy environment, you may want to factor that into the style of hearing aid you wear. In-the-Ear hearing aids are often most suitable for this type of environment. Their placement in the ear often helps minimize background noise.
- Windscreens – If you wear behind the ear hearing aids, speak to your hearing healthcare provider about windscreens or windhoods. These can be attached to your hearing aid device to minimize wind noise.
At Hearing, Balance & Speech Center, We’re Here to Help You!
At Hearing, Balance & Speech Center, we are here to help you with your hearing needs. If you’d like to book in a hearing assessment, please call us today on 203-774-5642 or request an appointment online.