Set Up Your Home to Optimise Your Hearing

3 mins

Publication Date: 30 April 2023

For people with hearing loss, creating a quieter home that's suited to your needs can have a meaningful impact on your day-to-day life. With our accessibility home design tips, you may find it easier and more enjoyable to socialise with guests and unwind after a long day.

The changes may not seem significant, but a few minor tweaks can make an impact on your ability to hear better in your home.

Reduce Echo With the Right Flooring

Your flooring choices have a big impact on how sound is absorbed in a room. Hard surfaces, like hardwood and vinyl plank flooring, can create more echo, while carpeting and cork flooring work to absorb sound.
Where possible, try to limit the number of hard surfaces in your home. This includes some decor, like mirrors or items made of glass. If you have hardwood floors, items like

acoustic tiles

that you place over top to improve their sound absorption or the addition of carpet can be a big help.

Prioritise Good Lighting for Lip Reading

Many people with hearing loss partly rely on lipreading when having conversations. However, only about

30% to 40% of speech sounds can be lip-read

in the best circumstances. To create an optimal environment for lipreading, you'll need efficient lighting around the home. Being able to see other people's faces clearly can also be beneficial, as

many lipreaders rely on facial expressions

to fill in those blanks.

Invest in Quieter Appliances

Loud appliances can create a lot of background noise. This background noise can blend with other types of noise, making it

difficult for people with hearing loss

to understand what others are saying. Simplify social interactions by investing in quieter appliances like dishwashers, laundry machines, and refrigerators.
Though some noise is unavoidable, there are plenty of models out there that can help you create a quieter and more comfortable atmosphere in your home. You can always ask to test them out in the store to be sure.

Improve Your Windows’ Acoustics

Outside sounds, like busy roads, can be distracting and irritating to people using hearing aid devices.
Thankfully, you can easily block out outside sounds by improving the acoustics of your windows. You can do this by adding heavy curtains to muffle the sounds or by

caulking

and weatherstripping any air gaps around your windows.

Consider Professional Treatment for Your Hearing Loss

Making changes around the house can help you cope with and navigate hearing loss. That said, it won't improve your hearing or prevent your hearing loss from escalating. If you want to make your hearing health a priority, contact a Connect Hearing audiologist.
Through a hearing test and examination, you can learn more about the state of your hearing, potential treatment options with a hearing aid, and other valuable insights that can improve your quality of life.