Ask your audiologist...

I have trouble hearing in background noise with my current hearing aid. Is there a hearing aid that can help me hear even in noise?

Almost any hearing aid will help a person with a hearing loss in a quiet place: that is worth the cost of an aid in itself. The best features available on a hearing aid to enable you to hear in noise are digital sound processing and directional microphones.

The newer and more sophisticated the technology, the better the noise reduction digital sound processing will perform. But the biggest amount of help comes from a directional microphone. Directional microphones can reduce sound from behind and to the sides of the head, allowing you to hear better in front of you (or who you are looking at).

If your hearing aid is over five years old, it is in your best hearing interest to look into new hearing aids with new technology and directional microphones. Remember that people with normal hearing can have trouble understanding speech in background noise, so a person with a hearing loss and hearing aids cannot expect to do well in that environment, either.

Some of the newer technology can be a big help in noise and make the difference between wanting to go places or stay home. Life becomes less enjoyable if you become a homebody. One of my patients recently told me that without his new hearing aids (digital aids with directional microphones), he would not be able to go to any of his important meetings or church any more. He was very grateful for the technology that is available today.

Just remember that no hearing aid in the world can make background noise disappear. Watch out for large ads and gimmicks that state otherwise. Technology is limited to only being able to reduce it. Have realistic expectations - if the cocktail party is too loud to hear speech, you need to move to a quieter area to talk.

Dr. Tia Flynn is a certified audiologist and has been in business for more than 14 years. Every Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. to noon, Dr. Flynn provides free hearing screenings at 1601 Third St. in Coeur d'Alene. (208) 664-2767. Visit our newly updated website www.affordablehearinginc.com for an online hearing test and watch helpful videos.