3 Ways People With Presbycusis Can Enjoy Their Home Theaters Even More
Posted on: 3 May 2016
As you age, your chances of developing presbycusis increases. Presbycusis is a common type of hearing loss that gradually affects both ears, usually at the same rate. If you're in the beginning stages of this condition, you've probably noticed that high-pitched sounds aren't as crisp and clear as they used to be. But this doesn't mean that you can't still enjoy your theater system. Read on for 3 ways people with presbycusis can increase their listening enjoyment when using their home theater systems.
1. Try Warm Compresses
The most common cause of presbycusis is age-related changes in the inner ears. These changes include nerve damage, damage to the hair cells that carry sound to the brain, and decreased circulation of blood in the inner ears.
By boosting the blood circulation to your inner ears right before you turn on your home theater system, you may be able to improve your ability to detect high-pitched sounds, thus making for a more well-rounded home entertainment experience. To try it, soak a washcloth in warm water and then ring it out. Place the cloth directly behind one of your ears, resting against the side of your head. Leave the cloth there until it cools off, and then repeat the process with the other ear.
For long term health, try limiting your sodium intake to 2,000 mg - 2,500 mg per day, and if you use alcohol and/or tobacco, try to give them up. All of these things are damaging to the blood flow in your inner ears.
2. Learn How To Use Your Equalizer
You'd be hard-pressed to find a home theater system that doesn't come with an equalizer these days. If you don't know where yours is, look for a series of sliding buttons labeled with the letters Hz. Each slider represents a specific frequency of sound, and the higher the hertz (Hz) are set for each slider, the louder that particular frequency of sound will get.
The slider buttons that control the hertz of your bass are usually found toward the left of your equalizer, with treble frequencies to the right and mid-range frequencies in the middle. By carefully adjusting these buttons, you can tailor-suite your listening experience to account for your hearing loss.
Since presbycusis is typically associated with the loss of high-pitched sounds, try turning up your treble frequencies. Go easy, though; small adjustments can make big changes to the way your system sounds. If you can't seem to adjust your equalizer to account for your hearing deficiency, contact a home theater specialist and let them know you'd like to purchase an equalizer with more bands. Bands refer to the different frequencies that can be adjusted, and the more bands your equalizer has, the more you can customize your system's sound.
3. Invest In A Hearing Loop
Hearing loops boost the experience of home theaters for those with presbycusis by rallying up all of the sound output and directing it straight to the listener's ear. To achieve this, a wire is connected to your home theater system and then positioned to circle the room that houses your system. This wire sends the sounds coming out of your speakers to a telecoil in your ear via electromagnetic waves. Most hearing aids and cochlear implants come equipped with built-in telecoils, or you can purchase a special headset that has one.
By having the sound coming out of your speakers directly routed to your ears, you negate background noise interference and create a cleaner, clearer listening experience. Hearing loops cost as little as $165, and you can purchase them at most stores that sell home theater systems.
It's quite common to experience some degree of hearing loss as you get older, but that doesn't mean you can't still get the most out of your home theater system. If you have presbycusis, try the above 3 tips to boost your listening enjoyment. For more information and tips, you can also contact a local home theater company like A Tech Security.
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