Hearing aids, like hearing loss, are complex. Your hearing aid needs change constantly throughout the day based on many factors, such as your environment and what you’re listening to. You may hear beautifully in your home but struggle to hear in noisy restaurants or when talking to a very soft-spoken friend.
Modern hearing aids can address some of the variability in hearing aid needs right when sound enters the microphone. The microphone on your hearing aid is the start of your hearing: all sounds enter your hearing aid through the microphone. By addressing the variability in hearing needs at the level of the microphone, your hearing experience becomes more seamless and enjoyable.
What Are the Different Kinds of Microphones?
There are two main types of microphones you can find in modern hearing aids:
- Omnidirectional Microphones: Until recently, all hearing aids used omnidirectional microphones. They were the technology traditionally used in hearing aids. These mics pick up sounds coming from all directions of your skull: front, back and side. This allows you to hear everything going on around you.
- Directional Microphones: As the name suggests, directional microphones focus on one direction and only pick up sound from that direction. Typically, they are focused on sounds coming from the front. This cuts back on background noise.
What Are the Benefits of a Directional Microphone?
- Better hearing in complex environments, such as a social gathering. By optimizing the sound that’s coming from your front, you’re able to focus better.
- Reduce competing surrounding sounds for less distraction.
- Enhanced speech clarity, meaning you’ll have an easier time holding a conversation, even in noisy environments. This has always been one of the biggest challenges in hearing aids.
Adaptive directional microphones take the benefits a step further. They can change the direction of their focus, picking up sounds and adjusting accordingly automatically.
What Are the Challenges of a Directional Microphone?
- Limited field of hearing; you may miss sounds behind you or to your side.
- Higher price tag due to the more advanced technology.
- Quicker battery loss due to the more sophisticated technology’s battery drain.
Finding the Right Microphone
Both types of microphones have their uses. As stated before, hearing needs are complex, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The microphone, whether directional or omnidirectional, plays a significant role in the functionality of your hearing aids. To discuss what microphone might work best for your hearing needs, call and make an appointment at Oregon Ear, Nose & Throat Center today.