Hearing difficulties in noisy environments

Hearing problems are very common. Both the causes and the severity can vary greatly, ranging from difficulty understanding certain frequencies or volumes to hearing impairment or hearing loss.

Many people also have difficulty hearing in the presence of background noise, meaning they find it hard to follow conversations or understand what is being said when there are loud noises in the background.

Find out below what the causes are, what treatment options are available and what technical aids are on offer.

What are hearing problems?

Generally speaking, people with hearing problems have difficulty hearing. These difficulties can vary from person to person and range from problems understanding soft sounds, speech or other acoustic signals to an inability to tolerate loud noises. Ringing in the ears, such as tinnitus, is also a common hearing problem. Hearing problems can take various forms, ranging from temporary hearing impairments to chronic conditions such as hearing loss or deafness.

What is background noise?

Background noise refers to sounds that are present in the background of a particular environment over a certain period of time. They are therefore not the immediate focus of attention. These can include sounds that many people find pleasant, such as the sound of the sea, the wind or birdsong, as well as disruptive noises such as construction noise, traffic noise, electrical appliances or music. Conversations in which you are not personally involved can also constitute background noise.

This background noise can increase the ambient noise level and thus make it difficult to perceive other sounds or conversations. The difficulty of understanding speech in a noisy environment and filtering out relevant information, for example when different sounds and voices occur simultaneously, is also known as the ‘cocktail party effect’.

Causes of hearing problems in the presence of background noise

The causes of hearing problems in the presence of background noise, or of hearing loss in general, can vary greatly.

They are particularly often a consequence of age-related hearing loss. Illnesses, such as ear infections, or disorders such as damage to the hair cells in the inner ear, also frequently lead to hearing problems. Another cause of hearing difficulties is genetic predisposition. Furthermore, accidents or injuries, particularly those affecting the ear, can lead to hearing loss.

Specific causes of hearing problems in the presence of background noise include difficulties with noise filtering in the brain or attention deficits. For instance, some people find it hard to focus on a specific sound source or to distinguish background noise from relevant sounds or voices when many different noises occur simultaneously. Neurological disorders can also impair hearing ability.

In any case, it is advisable to consult an ENT specialist or audiologist at an early stage if you experience hearing problems. They can carry out a thorough examination to determine whether the issues are temporary or chronic, and, if necessary, recommend individual treatment options or hearing aids.

Hearing problems with background noise in everyday life

Hearing problems in the presence of background noise can have various consequences for those affected in everyday life. These include

• Difficulty understanding conversations in noisy environments, such as cafés or restaurants. This can lead to people attending fewer or no social gatherings or group activities. The result is social isolation.
• Strain and tension: Understanding speech in noisy environments can be very tiring for those affected and lead to stress and a reduced quality of life.
• Increased risk of accidents: Impaired hearing can also increase the risk of accidents in everyday life if potential warning signals are no longer heard against a background of noise.
• Problems at work: Hearing loss can also cause problems in the workplace, for example with communication, and thus lead to a decline in work performance.

Background noise when watching television

It is particularly noticeable when watching television if you suddenly find you can no longer understand everything. If background noise is too loud whilst watching TV - for example, music or sound effects - dialogue or spoken commentary often becomes incomprehensible. This results in important information being lost and spoils the viewing experience. The usual response to this problem is to turn up the volume, which in turn can quickly become a nuisance for other people in the house.

What can be done?

First of all, it is important to find out what is causing the hearing loss. You should always consult a doctor or hearing care professional for this. Early diagnosis and treatment can help minimise the consequences of hearing problems.

Tips for dealing with hearing problems in noisy environments

• Use hearing aids such as hearing aids and cochlear implants. These special hearing aids can improve hearing performance and enable better communication, even in noisy environments. You can obtain information from your doctor or hearing care professional.
• Special hearing aids with noise-cancelling functions can help reduce background noise.
• If background noise is too loud when watching television, various settings and technical aids are recommended. These include audio tracks such as “Clear Speech” or TV hearing amplifiers such as the OSKAR from faller audio, which uses special dialogue optimisation to ensure that distracting background noise is filtered out.
• Audio therapies can help improve speech processing and comprehension in noisy environments. Here too, a prior diagnosis by a doctor is advisable to find the appropriate treatment.
• In excessively noisy environments, ear protectors can reduce background noise. If necessary, seek out quieter areas.
• Train yourself to be aware of visual cues: observing mouth movements, facial expressions and gestures can help you understand speech when there is too much background noise.
• Let the people you are talking to know about your hearing loss. Clear communication and a willingness to adapt to the needs of people with hearing difficulties are important when communicating with those who are hard of hearing.
• Seek advice from a doctor or hearing care professional.

Our online hearing test

To get an initial idea of your hearing ability in noisy environments, you can now take our free online hearing test.

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