Guided Tours and Hearing Aids Can Be Easier

For many people, vacationing isn’t just about relaxing—it’s about exploring! Whether you love visiting science museums, art galleries, historic houses, national parks, or factory tours, guided tours are a fantastic way to learn more about a place. But if you wear hearing aids, you might find it tough to hear the tour guide clearly. Don’t let your hearing loss get in the way of an amazing experience! With a few adjustments, you can make your hearing aids work to their fullest potential and enjoy every guided tour with ease.

Why Hearing Aids and Guided Tours are a Struggle

Hearing aids are designed to pick up sounds best when you’re within six feet of the speaker. That works great for small, quiet guided tours, but what about larger groups or noisy spaces? Standing close to the guide can help, but that’s not always possible. I used to try to stay near the guide, but focusing on listening in a group for long periods was exhausting. Plus, since I’m tall, I worried about blocking the view for others on the tour. I also found myself missing information if the guide pointed to something or explained an item because I was so focused on watching the guide's face to keep my hearing aids directed toward their mouths.

Solutions to Hear the Tour Guide Clearly

Thankfully, I worked with my hearing aid provider to add a distance program to my hearing aids. This special setting helped me hear sounds from farther away, which was great for indoor or quiet guided tours. However, I noticed that if the guide was walking and talking in the opposite direction, I still struggled. Plus, in large or echoey spaces, my hearing aids picked up extra noise, like echoes or wind.

The Best Fix: An External Microphone

After some trial and error, I found an even better solution—an external microphone made by my hearing aid manufacturer. This small device connects wirelessly to my hearing aids. I simply hand the microphone to the tour guide, and their voice comes through as if they’re standing right next to me! Best of all, background noise is minimized, and it doesn’t matter which direction the guide is facing. My hearing aid provider set up the microphone for me, and some even come with smartphone apps to adjust settings easily.

Make the Most of Your Hearing Aids and Guided Tours

If you love exploring new places, don’t let hearing challenges hold you back. Try a distance program or an external microphone to hear every word on your next guided tour. Talk to your hearing aid provider about the best option for you, and enjoy learning while you travel!