Watching a movie with hearing loss can sometimes pose challenges. According to the CDC, 7.1% of adults over 45 use hearing aids. Fortunately, today’shearing aids come with advanced features that can enhance your experience at places like the Tulsa Movie Theater. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your hearing aids while enjoying a movie, along with advice on protecting your hearing.
Optimizing Your Hearing Aids for the Theater
Movie theaters are designed to immerse viewers with dynamic sound. However, this can sometimes make the dialogue hard to catch, or the overall volume can feel overwhelming. Here are some ways to ensure your hearing aids are set for an optimal experience at the cinema:
- Use a theater program: Many hearing aids come with specialized settings designed for environments like movie theaters. These settings are often tailored to improve speech recognition while minimizing background noise. Before heading to the theater, check if your hearing aids have this feature and activate it. If you’re unsure, consult your audiologist for assistance.
- Sync with theater audio systems: Many theaters provide assistive listening devices, such as induction loops or FM systems, which can connect directly to your hearing aids. This allows you to receive clearer audio without boosting unwanted sounds. Check with your local theater to see if they offer this service, and sync your hearing aids accordingly for an enhanced experience.
- Ensure comfort for long movies: Watching a long movie can become uncomfortable if your hearing aids are not fitted correctly. Be sure that your hearing aids sit comfortably but securely in your ears. If you find loud sounds uncomfortable, consider bringing along hearing protection for safety. Also, avoid the temptation to simply increase the volume on your devices. Instead, fine-tune the hearing aid settings.
Protecting Your Hearing at the Theater
While you want to enjoy the movie, it’s important to protect your hearing from loud sound levels that can sometimes occur in theaters. Here’s how you can strike a balance between enjoying the movie and safeguarding your hearing:
- Manage volume settings: Adjust your hearing aids to maintain a comfortable volume level. If the sound system in the theater is too loud, use the volume control on your hearing aids to lower it without sacrificing clarity.
- Activate noise reduction: If your hearing aids come with noise reduction features, ensure they are switched on. These settings can help filter out unnecessary background noise, allowing you to focus on dialogue while keeping your hearing protected from loud bursts of sound.
- Limit exposure to high volumes: For particularly loud scenes, such as intense action sequences, you might consider taking a short break from your hearing aids to prevent overexposure to loud noises. Choosing movies with less explosive soundscapes might also be helpful if you are concerned about consistent high volumes.
By adjusting your hearing aids properly, your moviegoing experience can be both enjoyable and comfortable. Don’t forget to check your hearing aid settings before the movie starts and take advantage of any assistive listening systems offered by the theater.
For more information on how hearing aids can enhance your everyday experiences, including going to the movies, consider booking a hearing evaluation with Eastern Oklahoma Ear Nose and Throat – Yale Office.