Sometimes a simple phone call turns out to be the best part of your day. The telephone whether the “old fashioned” land line or a smart mobile phone plays a crucial role in keeping us connected to friends and family across the country and even down the road. In a world of fast-moving technology changes and increasing options to communicate, for many of us, the telephone or mobile phone is still our primary way to reach out to others, which makes the ability to hear well crucial for success.

If you are experiencing difficulty hearing the full telephone conversation on your home or mobile phone, here are some tips:

  • At the start of the conversation, let the person on the other end know that you sometimes have trouble following the conversation. Ask them to speak directly into to the receiver and be mindful of speaking over each other or at the same time.
  • When possible find a quiet place to make and receive calls, reducing background noise can help you focus in on the conversation
  • It may sound simple, but be aware of which ear hears telephone conversations better. Use that ear when receiving or making a call

There are also assistive listening devices that help make phone conversations easier. A hearing care professional can help you choose what device would work best for you.

Finally, if you have hearing aids, there are even more options to make telephone conversations easier to hear. Most modern hearing aids can stream mobile phone calls directly from your phone to your hearing aid devices. Some hearing aids connected directly and others use a hearing aid accessory to create the sound stream. Either way, this direct connectivity makes a real difference to following the whole conversation better.

When telephone conversations become difficult, you can take comfort in knowing that there are many options to explore to help and a hearing care professional can help you make the best selection.