[Crowbob]

The inability to understand speech due to hearing loss is called impaired speech discrimination. Usually, the higher end frequencies created by speech, ‘s’ ‘t’ ‘ch’, etc. are obliterated with hearing loss. Upping the volume does have some effect but is typically not all that beneficial because it is analogous to upping the volume through a worn out speaker; it just makes the speech louder, not clearer.

Background noise has the same effect as noise cancelling headphones. The frequencies of the noise cancel out the frequencies of the speech making speech discrimination even worse. In addition, hearing loss has a significant impact on one’s ability to locate the source (direction) of sound (including speech) because binaural hearing gets reduced to monaural hearing, especially if one side is more impaired than the other. As such, the speech from the guy next to you has the same relevancy (to your brain) as, say, the hottie sitting across the table from you at your favorite I-Hop in Philadelphia.

Some people (certainly not me) can luck out with cheapo, non-programmable hearing instruments. Some can’t (certainly me).

It’s definitely worth a go at using hearing instruments. Not only because it might make your life easier but because it makes the lives of the people around you easier. Some people who unknowingly encounter a person with hearing loss presume the person is stupid.

With me, it’s not a presumption, unfortunately.