When choosing headphones to wear with a CI, make sure they fit comfortably over or around the external processor without interfering with its placement.
Sami R shares her experience as a CI user on Instagram. She uses her CI for single-sided deafness while having normal hearing in her other ear. She enjoys using headphones with her CI to listen to music on walks, during exercise, and for podcasts and streaming TV shows on her iPad or phone while traveling. She notes that "the size of the headphone earpiece is critical, as it needs to be big enough to sit comfortably over the top of the user's whole ear, including the CI microphone."
Five Tips for Using Headphones with Hearing Aids
Finding the best solution for your listening needs may involve some trial and error, but you may find the following tips helpful along the way:
1) Buy in-store if possible
Since finding a pair of headphones that fits comfortably and doesn’t cause feedback often requires trying on various brands and styles, it's usually better to shop in-store rather than online. Sami R agrees: “Definitely don’t buy online!” she advises. “The earpieces vary so much from brand to brand. They may look big enough but then squash the edge of your ear or the device's microphone. Go in-store and try on various pairs until you find the ones that offer the most comfort.” She also stresses, “Comfort is key, so lots of nice soft padding is essential too.” If you do decide to shop online, be sure to read the return policy closely in case the headphones are not a good fit.
2) Reduce the volume of your hearing aids; consider changing domes
If you're still experiencing feedback after testing different headphone types and adjusting their position, try lowering the volume on your hearing aids. “Since the music playback device has independent volume control, overall music volume can be set to a pleasing level,” explains Bellavia. “If using open domes, changing to closed domes can help. Since this will affect the overall listening experience, one should discuss it with their hearing care professional first.”
3) Choose Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Even if you use hearing aids, your hearing loss can still progress or worsen with exposure to loud noise. Without noise reduction, you may need to raise the volume of your headphones in noisy environments, putting your hearing at risk. To protect your hearing, use noise-cancelling headphones, keep the volume low, and take regular breaks. This applies to all audio streaming, including e-gaming. Bellavia advises making sure the sound level is not too loud to avoid further hearing damage: “As a general rule of thumb, keep your volume control at 60% or below. Some headphones have a 'safe listening' mode which can also be used.”