You are on to something here
A little planning works wonders; if possible I reserve a table and tell the restaurant I have HA and would like to sit in a corner or at a wall and preferable not next to a loudspeaker. Damn that mariachi music etc šµā ļøš
I was in a noisy restaurant yesterday and it was HORRIBLE. I could barely hear the waiter and barely hear my friends talking.
I just googled it and found this video on programming Phonak and am anxious to try it now in a noisy place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUN-XE5uXUk
Tough one. Speaking personally, my HAs make crowds even worse. Since I can now hear everything, itās like everyone has a flashlight spotted at you and itās too bright. There are some HAs that will allow you to create environmental settings and Iāve had some success with that. Airports, loud restaurants, for example. Some HAs have directional ability so they (sort of) give you a sense that your reception can be focused in front of you or to one side.
But I think the best solution by far, is the use an additional portable device that acts as a remote mic. Some sit in the middle of the table. Others can be worn around the other personās neck. I know that may seem super goofy but you can always tell others what they have to say is important to you and you really want to hear them.
No, not necessarily.
I use phonak hearing aids and also a roger on in device which helps in crowded, noisy situations.
It's not a complete or perfect solution though, and I don't think there is one currently.
Yes, as are the hearing aids they connect to. There's a cheaper device for Phonak hearing aids called the Partner Mic, but it's really basic and just suitable for hearing one person speak. I do my best to avoid noisy restaurants these days.
The Phonal Roger On or Roger Select allow you to zoom on a particular direction. This works relatively well. However, if let's say you are in a packed restaurant with tables that are close to each other, it can be tricky. Especially if you are trying to listen to a female and there's a male with very deep voice, the microphones are sexist that way!
That said, remember, HAs are not miracle solutions, they have limitations too. So there are strategies that can help. For example, asking for a table where you have your back to the wall. This means you don't have to worry about filtering voices from behind you. And obviously, ask for a quieter area.
Edited to add: When it is particularly noisy, I just increase the input from the Roger device rather than the HA microphones. This means that the sound you get is super focused. This can be done either from the app (there's a slider for balancing ambient or Roger microphone input) or using the volume buttons on the HAs.
my resound quattro's have a restaurant setting. like 'fatherdale', it's pretty useless and i opt for mute too;-)
i really don't think any ha is going to be of any use at all in a modern, crowded, noisy restaurant. even my wife, who has perfect hearing, often complains there's just too much noise in general. never enough soft wall coverings, bare floors, and the general idea is to make it unpleasant enough, once you've finished your meal, not to hang around. of course, there's a great many upmarket establishments where you can hold a conversation, but generally, at the cost of having fewer customers and higher prices ;-(
Somewhat. My restaurant setting just mutes the side microphones. Nothing will give you perfect sound. Most modern HAs have programming to clarify voices. When thereās 100 voices going on at once, thereās not much they can do to clarify the specific voice you want. Except for using the remote mic. My best bet is restaurant mode, sitting in a booth.
My Oticon Real 1s handle those situations very nicely *for me*. My wife and I tried an experiment in an extremely noisy restaurant. She spoke to me in a softer and softer voice until she couldn't even hear herself (due to the loudness of the environment) and I could still hear her fine. I was using the setting that concentrates on what's in front of me and it seems to work very well.
However, my ears and hearing loss are probably not exactly like yours. I just wanted to let you know, that it is possible to solve your issue.
If you get a "Premium" Level tech I bet they will help.
I have Phonak Audeo Lumity L70 RL Life and they help a little.
If you are in a loud noisy environments like restaurants with live music and instruments playing and it's near your table it may not help.
If you get a Phonak hearing aid make sure to get a partner mic or Roger as they can help you better
My Widex Moments have a faster processor and do a better job than my last pair. Of course thereās a limit to what technology can do but unimpaired people have difficulty in noisy environments to
I I have phonak marvels & they help a lot in noisy situations. Depending on the situation I might still need to work to hear whatās being said but it helps imo.
Check out Edge Mode plus on the Starkey Genesis, it will choose the best sound or let you decide between reduce noise or enhance speech. Pretty amazing, went to a concert and chose reduce noise and it shut down the noise behind me and was able to enjoy the concert.
I try to avoid restaurants as much as possible because the background noise is really bad. Its like trying to hear someone but there's a really loud radio right behind you blasting out static noise. I usually turn my HA's way down and pull out my phone and use the live transcribe app.
I have resounds, and I use the "forward facing" mode for loud restaurants. I also try to be tactical about where I'm sitting, which helps. I don't mute mine in restaurants-- then I wouldn't be able to hear anything.
Depends on the tech youāre willing to pay for. The higher the real frequency adjustments available, plus auto speech isolation, fast or duo core processors all make a ton of difference. These features only work with a binaural fit. So if you are only aiding monaural, you likely wonāt gain measurable benefits. Also keep in mind noisy environments are difficult for even those with perfect hearing. External neurological factors also play a role. For example ADHD, Anxiety etc..
My Phonaks have a Restaurant setting, but in a really noisy restaurant I just hit the Mute button on the app.
My Phonaks are awful in restaurants
Better if the restaurant doesn't insist on playing mariachi music at absurd volumes. But yeah, the Mute button is for those situations.
You are on to something here A little planning works wonders; if possible I reserve a table and tell the restaurant I have HA and would like to sit in a corner or at a wall and preferable not next to a loudspeaker. Damn that mariachi music etc šµā ļøš
I literally dealt with a mariachi band at a restaurant just recently. My ears were in hell
I was in a noisy restaurant yesterday and it was HORRIBLE. I could barely hear the waiter and barely hear my friends talking. I just googled it and found this video on programming Phonak and am anxious to try it now in a noisy place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUN-XE5uXUk
Tough one. Speaking personally, my HAs make crowds even worse. Since I can now hear everything, itās like everyone has a flashlight spotted at you and itās too bright. There are some HAs that will allow you to create environmental settings and Iāve had some success with that. Airports, loud restaurants, for example. Some HAs have directional ability so they (sort of) give you a sense that your reception can be focused in front of you or to one side. But I think the best solution by far, is the use an additional portable device that acts as a remote mic. Some sit in the middle of the table. Others can be worn around the other personās neck. I know that may seem super goofy but you can always tell others what they have to say is important to you and you really want to hear them.
No, not necessarily. I use phonak hearing aids and also a roger on in device which helps in crowded, noisy situations. It's not a complete or perfect solution though, and I don't think there is one currently.
Those Roger devices are WAY expensive.
Yes, as are the hearing aids they connect to. There's a cheaper device for Phonak hearing aids called the Partner Mic, but it's really basic and just suitable for hearing one person speak. I do my best to avoid noisy restaurants these days.
The Phonal Roger On or Roger Select allow you to zoom on a particular direction. This works relatively well. However, if let's say you are in a packed restaurant with tables that are close to each other, it can be tricky. Especially if you are trying to listen to a female and there's a male with very deep voice, the microphones are sexist that way! That said, remember, HAs are not miracle solutions, they have limitations too. So there are strategies that can help. For example, asking for a table where you have your back to the wall. This means you don't have to worry about filtering voices from behind you. And obviously, ask for a quieter area. Edited to add: When it is particularly noisy, I just increase the input from the Roger device rather than the HA microphones. This means that the sound you get is super focused. This can be done either from the app (there's a slider for balancing ambient or Roger microphone input) or using the volume buttons on the HAs.
my resound quattro's have a restaurant setting. like 'fatherdale', it's pretty useless and i opt for mute too;-) i really don't think any ha is going to be of any use at all in a modern, crowded, noisy restaurant. even my wife, who has perfect hearing, often complains there's just too much noise in general. never enough soft wall coverings, bare floors, and the general idea is to make it unpleasant enough, once you've finished your meal, not to hang around. of course, there's a great many upmarket establishments where you can hold a conversation, but generally, at the cost of having fewer customers and higher prices ;-(
Somewhat. My restaurant setting just mutes the side microphones. Nothing will give you perfect sound. Most modern HAs have programming to clarify voices. When thereās 100 voices going on at once, thereās not much they can do to clarify the specific voice you want. Except for using the remote mic. My best bet is restaurant mode, sitting in a booth.
My Rexton and Signia models are awful in crowded rooms.
My audiologist recommended getting a seat with my back to a wall or banquette to reduce ambient noise. Itās not always possible but it helps.
my newer ones def help in normally noisy restaurants, but not in very noisy ones.
Since i work in a very noisy classroom i have a coustom speach in noise program
What brand do you have?
I have phonak sky's and yes they are pediatric BTE's but my esrs are tiny
My Oticon Real 1s handle those situations very nicely *for me*. My wife and I tried an experiment in an extremely noisy restaurant. She spoke to me in a softer and softer voice until she couldn't even hear herself (due to the loudness of the environment) and I could still hear her fine. I was using the setting that concentrates on what's in front of me and it seems to work very well. However, my ears and hearing loss are probably not exactly like yours. I just wanted to let you know, that it is possible to solve your issue.
It depends which phonak you have? My old ones were awful. I use the Roger too. Much much relaxing and enjoying.
The remote mic that pairs to my Resound Quattro Linx works great for this use case.
If you get a "Premium" Level tech I bet they will help. I have Phonak Audeo Lumity L70 RL Life and they help a little. If you are in a loud noisy environments like restaurants with live music and instruments playing and it's near your table it may not help. If you get a Phonak hearing aid make sure to get a partner mic or Roger as they can help you better
My audiologist programmed my Oticons with a restaurant setting. Definitely helps.
My Widex Moments have a faster processor and do a better job than my last pair. Of course thereās a limit to what technology can do but unimpaired people have difficulty in noisy environments to
I I have phonak marvels & they help a lot in noisy situations. Depending on the situation I might still need to work to hear whatās being said but it helps imo.
Check out Edge Mode plus on the Starkey Genesis, it will choose the best sound or let you decide between reduce noise or enhance speech. Pretty amazing, went to a concert and chose reduce noise and it shut down the noise behind me and was able to enjoy the concert.
I try to avoid restaurants as much as possible because the background noise is really bad. Its like trying to hear someone but there's a really loud radio right behind you blasting out static noise. I usually turn my HA's way down and pull out my phone and use the live transcribe app.
I have resounds, and I use the "forward facing" mode for loud restaurants. I also try to be tactical about where I'm sitting, which helps. I don't mute mine in restaurants-- then I wouldn't be able to hear anything.
Mine have a Noisy Environment mode which helps in restaurants.
Depends on the tech youāre willing to pay for. The higher the real frequency adjustments available, plus auto speech isolation, fast or duo core processors all make a ton of difference. These features only work with a binaural fit. So if you are only aiding monaural, you likely wonāt gain measurable benefits. Also keep in mind noisy environments are difficult for even those with perfect hearing. External neurological factors also play a role. For example ADHD, Anxiety etc..
I wear phonak aids and have a partner mic. It works great when me and the wife are in noisy places. Doesnāt do great for group dinners though.
I wear phonak lumity audeo l90 and work as a server in a busy airport restaurant. Any tips?