Your Hearing Journey
Daily Ear Check-In
Listening Challenges
Café Challenge
Test your hearing in a busy café environment
Online Meeting
Test your hearing in a virtual meeting with background noise
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Weekly Leaderboard
Hearing Knowledge Hub
Tips for Better Hearing in Noisy Places
Use Visual Cues
Watch the speaker's face and lips. Visual cues can significantly improve speech understanding, especially in noisy environments.
Position Yourself Strategically
Sit or stand where you can best see and hear the people you're talking with. Position yourself with your back to noise sources when possible.
Practice Active Listening
Focus your attention on the speaker and mentally summarize what they're saying. This helps your brain process speech more effectively.
Train Your Hearing
Regular practice with speech-in-noise exercises (like the HearMe challenges) can improve your ability to understand speech in background noise.
The Science of Hearing in Noise
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Speech understanding depends on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) - the difference between the volume of speech and background noise. A positive SNR means speech is louder than noise, making it easier to understand.
Cognitive Load
Listening in noise requires more cognitive resources. Your brain must work harder to separate speech from background sounds, which can lead to mental fatigue.
Hidden Hearing Loss
Some people with normal hearing test results still struggle in noisy environments. This may be due to "hidden hearing loss" - damage to neural connections that doesn't show up on standard tests.
Neuroplasticity
Your brain can improve its ability to process speech in noise through training. Regular practice helps your auditory system adapt and become more efficient at this challenging task.
Helpful Resources
Apps & Tools
- SoundCheck - Free hearing screening tool
- NoiseAware - Monitors environmental noise levels
- AudioBooks - Listening practice with adjustable background noise
Websites
When to Seek Help
Consider consulting a hearing healthcare professional if:
- You consistently struggle to hear in noisy environments
- You often ask people to repeat themselves
- You find yourself avoiding social situations due to hearing difficulties
- You experience ringing in your ears (tinnitus)