Thursday, October 08, 2015

Headphones and Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids

I have a hard of hearing (HoH) friend with a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid, who requested info about headphones. Keeping notes, as I go along.

CONSTRAINTS
  • Corded (no BlueTooth, as the iPod Shuffle does not support it)
  • Over-the-ear (not on-the-ear); that is, circumaural
  • Noise-canceling 
  • Prefer simplicity (for example, no headphones amp needed, minimal buttons, so not accidentally pressed)
STYLES
  • Headphones
  • Telecoil (also known as T-coils)
  • Bone Conduction
  • Phonak ComPilot (?)
POSSIBILITIES
OUTSIDE-THE-BOX IDEAS

  • Upgrade hearing aids to make/model supporting Bluetooth
    • Pros:
      • Stream audio directly to the hearing aid
      • Works with many devices
    • Cons:
      • Cost...$800-$2,000
      • Time
  • Bone conduction headphones
    • Pros:
      • Conducts audio directly, so no feedback
    • Cons:
      • May interfere with glasses and/or BTE hearing aid
  • Telecoil option (for example, under-chin receiver, neck-worn receiver)
    • Pros:
      •  No feedback from headphones
    • Cons:
      • Complicated setup (?)
  • Pandora internet radio, and so forth

RESOURCES
https://www.reddit.com/r/deaf/
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-wireless-home-theater-headphones/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headphones
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_aid

GENERAL NOTES
  • TV wireless amplifier: two birds with one stone (?)
  • Headphone's music must reach the hearing aid's microphone; therefore, for BTE hearing aids, the headphone's ear cup must open up, at the top, and cover the top of the hearing aid
  • Noise canceling option a big plus
  • Take hearing aids out, during use (?)
  • A caution, on feedback: "If the headphones push on the hearing aid or sit too closely to the hearing aid, you may experience feedback, a whistling noise coming from the hearing aid. This is an indicator that you either need to re-position the headphones or are unable to wear those headphones with your hearing aids."
  • Hearing aid adjustment may minimize or eliminate feedback. 
  • (?)

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