Tips That Make Watching TV More Enjoyable For the Hearing Impaired

A lot of challenges come with being hearing impaired. Doing simple things, like watching the TV, can become so frustrating that you may be tempted to give up on it altogether.

Don’t give up on simple joys, like watching your favorite TV show so quickly! Although it may take a few tweaks to your setup, changes to your routine, and a few new gadgets, there are things you can do to make watching TV much more enjoyable when your hearing just isn’t the same as it used to be.

Get a Better Speaker

If you spent a good chunk of change on a TV, you may be surprised to know that the speakers on your TV probably aren’t very good. Many television sets focus on the picture and not the sound. Upgrading your TV with a new speaker can really help if you’re struggling to hear.

That doesn’t mean you have to shell out thousands of dollars on a fancy surround sound system! There are many speakers that are compact enough to place nearly anywhere in your living room. Some speakers are even specially designed for the hearing impaired. Their technology adds clarity to dialog, and they can even manage changes in volume between TV programs and commercials so you aren’t forced to turn the TV up for the program and back down again every time an ad comes on.

Wear Headphones

The right speakers can transform your TV viewing experience, and they are great when you want to enjoy watching television with other people, but they can still be a challenge for the hearing impaired. Extraneous noises inside or outside the house can be very distracting, especially if you’re wearing a hearing aid.

Consider wearing headphones when you watch TV. You can find headphones that have been specially designed to be worn when watching television. Most use Bluetooth, so there are no annoying cords. They can provide you with an immersive experience, all without having to turn up the volume and annoy other people in the house.

Want to watch TV with someone else? You can find sets of headphones, so that you can listen to the TV at one volume, while your partner listens at a different volume.

Turn On Closed Captions

Closed captions can make it much easier for you to watch TV. Even with enhanced speakers and headphones, it can be difficult to hear exactly what everyone is saying. Instead of trying to read their lips, having the text at the bottom of the screen can help you catch the words you miss.

Worried about how others in your household will feel about having closed captioning on the TV? You shouldn’t! It comes with benefits for those who aren’t hard of hearing. For example, closed captioning can:

• Improve comprehension
• Improve attention
• Improve memory
• Enhance learning for young readers

Adjust the Audio Settings

You probably already know that your television has many different settings, but did you know that they can enhance your listening experience when you’re hard of hearing?

TVs today are much more advanced than the TVs of just a few years ago. Not only can you do things like turn the bass up and down, many televisions also offer settings that can flatten the range of volume. That way, the loudest and the quietest sounds are similar, so there’s no need to turn the volume up and down while you’re watching an action flick.

You can also find settings that can clarify voices by layering dialog sounds above sound effects, making it easier for you to understand the characters, regardless of whether they are talking in a quiet living room or yelling over an explosive car chase.

Reposition the TV

There are many things you need to consider before placing your TV. Unfortunately, many people think more about where it looks good rather than where it will provide you with the best viewing experience.

If you’re hard of hearing, the TV should be placed directly in front of your chair or couch. If you sit off to the side, the sound is unable to travel straight into your ears, and it may be more difficult to read the closed captions.

Watching TV may never be the same as it once was, but that doesn’t mean it has to be less enjoyable! You can still watch your favorite movies and TV shows. Even if the experience is a little different, with these tips, you can make sure you don’t miss a thing.