Using the Hearing Number

Try to be close to the person you want to hear—about an arm’s length is ideal. Being able to see the face of the person who is speaking is also important. It allows you to read lip movements and facial expressions, which can help your brain decode incoming sounds.

Didn’t understand what was said? Summarize what you did hear and ask the speaker to clarify. For example, “I heard you say something about dinner, but missed the rest.” This can be more helpful than asking “huh?” or “what?”

The sound quality of what you are trying to hear—whether it’s a friend’s voice or the dialogue from a movie—will be better without other competing sounds. Try these steps:

• Reduce background noise, like the TV, music, or fan.
• Find a cozy place for your conversation. Smaller spaces and lower ceilings tend to have less reverberation, or echo, than larger spaces and high ceilings. Soft surfaces, like carpet and pillows, also help muffle noisy reverberation so that you can hear more of what is being said.

Using captions (also known as subtitles) while watching TV or movies makes it easier to understand what is being said. Your brain won’t have to concentrate as hard to catch the dialogue.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, such as FaceTime, Google Voice, Skype, and WhatsApp, have better sound quality than a regular phone call. This can make it easier to understand what is said.

Many smartphone apps can help you change the sound on your smartphone so that it is easier to hear phone calls and listen to music. You can also customize certain Bluetooth headphones that connect to smartphones, tablets, and televisions so you can hear better.

Americans can now buy safe and effective over-the-counter, or OTC, hearing aids. OTC hearing aids are intended for adults with hearing numbers less than 60 (mild to moderate levels of hearing loss). They can be purchased without seeing a hearing clinician, such as an audiologist or hearing aid specialist.

Prescription hearing aids are for people with all levels of hearing loss. They are available through a hearing care professional who will assess your hearing needs and guide you in using these technologies and other strategies.

Cochlear implants are for individuals with severe levels of hearing loss who do not benefit enough from a hearing aid. A cochlear implant converts sounds into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. Getting a cochlear implant involves an outpatient surgery by an otolaryngologist (ENT).