Hearing Aid Programming and Face Masks

Time to Read: 6 minutes

Masks appear to be here to stay. If you’re wearing hearing aids this is not good news.

Did you know the level of hearing and comprehension can change depending on the type of mask a person is wearing? 

Researchers in Illinois performed speech understanding tests using a variety of masks and came up with a graph marking the attenuation frequency of each types of mask.

All masks tested attenuated high-frequency sounds above 1 kHz, with the worst attenuation above 4 kHz. These high-frequency signals are important for hearing sounds like “s,” “f,” and “th,” which are usually the most challenging sounds for people with hearing loss. 

More breathable masks, such as surgical masks and plain-weave cotton, transmit sound better than plastic windows and densely woven fabrics and the performance of the masks appears to depend mostly on material and weave, rather than thickness.

It should be noted that research didn’t not address the efficacy of the masks against droplets, only their acoustic qualities.

Overcoming the Challenge

Fortunately there are a number of things you can do to maximise your hearing. 

Step One
The first step is empowering yourself. Let people know you need their co-operation. Here are some practical tips you can ask people to use when talking to you with a mask on.

• Ask if there is a quiet space to talk 
• Speak slowly and clearly 
• Ask them not to shout 
• Make sure you are wearing your hearing aid
• Consider using a portable hearing aid amplifier
• Ask questions and don’t be afraid to ask them to rephrase remarks if not understood

Step Two
The second step is to wear your hearing aids, even when it is quiet and you are staying at home.

Your brain needs the stimulation of sound - even in quiet environments. We have an article here on why it is important. We also have a video too.

The University of Illinois researchers also tested the face masks by asking the wearer to use a microphone and found that many of the issues they observed were overcome.

Step Three
So, another step to improve your hearing is consider getting some additional hearing aid support in the form of additional microphone. These take the form of a Compilot or a Roger pen which are additional microphones which stream directly into your hearing aids. And they’re ideal if you are regularly talking with a mask wearer - a spouse, a friend, a medical specialist, a co-worker.

We have an article here on accessories available for the major hearing aid brands.

Which masks rate best for clarity?

According to the University of Illinois, the best masks overall were the surgical mask and the KN95 respirator.  It was closely followed by the lightest cloth masks made of 100% cotton with plain, jersey, and muslin weaves.

The N95 respirator, made of thick non-woven material and fits tightly on the face, blocked more sound than the surgical mask and KN95 respirator. 

Cloth face masks made of a cotton/spandex blend­ – similar to underwear material  – absorbed more sound than the loosely woven 100% cotton masks.The worst cloth masks for sound transmission were those made of denim and bedsheets, which are both tightly woven cotton fabrics.

Masks with plastic windows and shields, which may be useful for lip reading cues, also deflect sound to the side of the face.

The next step

If you are struggling with hearing people wearing face masks , even with your hearing aids, give us a call here at Value Hearing. Depending on the age and type of hearing aids there may be additional programming we can do to recapture those high frequencies.