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Directional Microphone vs Omni Directional Microphone

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I’ve had analog hearing aids since I lost my hearing at 18 months old. I was introduced to digital aids when they first came out by the NHS and remembered the first time, I hated them and kept using my old analog hearing aids. Next check up, they tried to convince me to switch to the digital aids again and I decided at this time, to persevere with it and wear them for quite a few days. Eventually, once my brain adjusted, I found that they were great! That was 6/7years ago I think.

Now, quite a few years later, I went back for a check up, and apparently I was a few generations of the digital hearing aids behind. Again, I switched to the latest generation, and found they were awful. There was this constant tinny noise, I couldn’t hear my own voice, and i couldn’t hear certain conversations!

Went back to have them adjusted and they were still no better. I was so upset, the point when I realized they really weren’t good was when I was at a dinner with my aunt’s family and I couldn’t hear half of what was being said. Even my cousin, who was sat next to me, was talking to me, and i didn’t even hear him and my uncle who was sat in front of me had to point out that the cousin was talking to me. I really do not like the directional microphone on these fancy digital hearing aids. Do anyone else have any problems with the directional microphone? I do like the digitial aids but only if they had omni directional microphone.

The Audiologist took my first generation digital aids away from me when I had been given the latest generation aids. But I found a spare first generation aid and used that in the meantime. Now, I’ve gone for private ones, with an audiologist who seemed to understand that as a long term hearing aid user, we want to hear everything and all as we have done our whole lives! I will be receiving the private ones tomorrow and will hope for the best.

4 people in this conversation7 min readJump to latest

The directional program is only good for hearing anyone directly in front of you. You should also have a general program that is not directional so you can hear all around you. But that means that there will be more noise to deal with.

I refuse directional mics on any aids, for the very reasons you bring up. I want to know what’s going on around me, not what my decides is important from a specific direction.

oh my… not knowing what the hell you are talking about has never kept anyone from posting an answer on this forum. if you can’t hear someone sitting next to you than find an / that can program your aids correctly.

post your audio-gram and what brand/model aids you have.

— Updated —

oh my… not knowing what the hell you are talking about has never kept anyone from posting an answer on this forum. if you can’t hear someone sitting next to you than find an AuD/HIS that can program your aids correctly.

post your audio-gram and what brand/model aids you have.

Ah, Doc Jake. Your jolly replies warm my heart.

@Doc_Jake said:

oh my… not knowing what the hell you are talking about has never kept anyone from posting an answer on this forum. if you can’t hear someone sitting next to you than find an AuD/HIS that can program your aids correctly.

post your audio-gram and what brand/model aids you have.

— Updated —

oh my… not knowing what the hell you are talking about has never kept anyone from posting an answer on this forum. if you can’t hear someone sitting next to you than find an AuD/HIS that can program your aids correctly.

post your audio-gram and what brand/model aids you have.

— Updated —

Ah, Doc Jake. Your jolly replies warm my heart.

@Doc_Jake said:

oh my… not knowing what the hell you are talking about has never kept anyone from posting an answer on this forum. if you can’t hear someone sitting next to you than find an AuD/HIS that can program your aids correctly.

post your audio-gram and what brand/model aids you have.

— Updated —

oh my… not knowing what the hell you are talking about has never kept anyone from posting an answer on this forum. if you can’t hear someone sitting next to you than find an AuD/HIS that can program your aids correctly.

post your audio-gram and what brand/model aids you have.

Directional mics are not your issue. Like Doc Jake said you need an that can program your aids correctly for you.

In reply to @JeffBowser

@JeffBowser said:

Ah, Doc Jake. Your jolly replies warm my heart.

— Updated —

Ah, Doc Jake. Your jolly replies warm my heart.

refusing directional microphones because you want to hear what’s going on around just confirms you have no idea…

— Updated —

@JeffBowser said:

Ah, Doc Jake. Your jolly replies warm my heart.

— Updated —

Ah, Doc Jake. Your jolly replies warm my heart.

refusing directional microphones because you want to hear what’s going on around just confirms you have no idea…

Your kind-hearted replies merely confirm you are just a grumpy old jackass who’s been sucking at the teat of the tax payer for far too long. I can further explain my (and my audiologist’s) thoughts on directional as it pertains to me specifically, but you are only interested in denigrating people. So, once again, blow off.

@Doc_Jake said:

refusing directional microphones because you want to hear what’s going on around just confirms you have no idea…

— Updated —

refusing directional microphones because you want to hear what’s going on around just confirms you have no idea…

— Updated —

Your kind-hearted replies merely confirm you are just a grumpy old jackass who’s been sucking at the teat of the tax payer for far too long. I can further explain my (and my audiologist’s) thoughts on directional as it pertains to me specifically, but you are only interested in denigrating people. So, once again, blow off.

@Doc_Jake said:

refusing directional microphones because you want to hear what’s going on around just confirms you have no idea…

— Updated —

refusing directional microphones because you want to hear what’s going on around just confirms you have no idea…

@JeffBowser said:

Your kind-hearted replies merely confirm you are just a grumpy old jackass who’s been sucking at the teat of the tax payer for far too long. I can further explain my (and my audiologist’s) thoughts on directional as it pertains to me specifically, but you are only interested in denigrating people. So, once again, blow off.

— Updated —

Your kind-hearted replies merely confirm you are just a grumpy old jackass who’s been sucking at the teat of the tax payer for far too long. I can further explain my (and my audiologist’s) thoughts on directional as it pertains to me specifically, but you are only interested in denigrating people. So, once again, blow off.

I think you use basically the same lines in another post… you god damn right I got a good education then I got a good job and had sense enough to keep it… retired Oct 17 and happy as a hog in shit.

— Updated —

@JeffBowser said:

Your kind-hearted replies merely confirm you are just a grumpy old jackass who’s been sucking at the teat of the tax payer for far too long. I can further explain my (and my audiologist’s) thoughts on directional as it pertains to me specifically, but you are only interested in denigrating people. So, once again, blow off.

— Updated —

Your kind-hearted replies merely confirm you are just a grumpy old jackass who’s been sucking at the teat of the tax payer for far too long. I can further explain my (and my audiologist’s) thoughts on directional as it pertains to me specifically, but you are only interested in denigrating people. So, once again, blow off.

I think you use basically the same lines in another post… you god damn right I got a good education then I got a good job and had sense enough to keep it… retired Oct 17 and happy as a hog in shit.

@Doc_Jake said:

I think you use basically the same lines in another post… you god damn right I got a good education then I got a good job and had sense enough to keep it… retired Oct 17 and happy as a hog in shit.

— Updated —

I think you use basically the same lines in another post… you god damn right I got a good education then I got a good job and had sense enough to keep it… retired Oct 17 and happy as a hog in shit.

Doc Jake
I just want you to know that I like your post they are direct and to the point. I am guess that comes from dealing with Vets, because most of us (Vets) that I know are very direct and to the point also.
I know when I was in the service we did not have a lot of time to be politically correct and I also know seeing I go to the for my hearing aids that the audiologist there do no have much time for small talk either. I respect all of the VA audiologist for what they do and I know that most of not all could make more money by having a private practice. God Bless you for you did and keep the advice coming.

Doc Jake is downright rude. One can be blunt and direct, as well as factual and educational, without being a raging asshole. I’ll continue to stand on this forum and call him out, regardless of his usefulness when he is not being a raging misanthropist.

As for basically same lines in another post - yep, and I’ll continue to call you out whenever you show your immature and unprofessional behavior as befitting your age and position.

In reply to @cvkemp

If you want to be truly useful, and not just hateful, perhaps you can explain what you think is misunderstood by way of directional microphones, as opposed to merely belittling people to elevate yourself. I’d be especially interested in your assessment as it pertains to my hearing loss in particular, so I can offer some contradictions to my audiologist for her assessment.

@JeffBowser said:

If you want to be truly useful, and not just hateful, perhaps you can explain what you think is misunderstood by way of directional microphones, as opposed to merely belittling people to elevate yourself. I’d be especially interested in your assessment as it pertains to my hearing loss in particular, so I can offer some contradictions to my audiologist for her assessment.

Let me try to explain my aids and the way the directional mics work. I my default program my aids work in Omni directional mode I hear everything around me that I have to capacity to hear. I also have a program for noisy areas that is directional in that I hear what the person that is directly in front of me talking, and it blocks background noise from the rest of the area. I also have a music program which has all filters turned off, and I hear everything around me with no filtering and no noise canceling. I also have a phone program that I am not using that much and will have removed seeing I use Bluetooth connections to my phones. When I go back in for my adjustments I have been told that it is possible to get a program that will increase my hearing to my right side when I am driving or when my wife and I are out eating. See I am left handed and my wife always sets to my right side.
This all depends on the way the hearing aids are programmed and the capability of the aids. Directional mics in my case work in Omni mode 99% of the time.

— Updated —

@JeffBowser said:

If you want to be truly useful, and not just hateful, perhaps you can explain what you think is misunderstood by way of directional microphones, as opposed to merely belittling people to elevate yourself. I’d be especially interested in your assessment as it pertains to my hearing loss in particular, so I can offer some contradictions to my audiologist for her assessment.

Let me try to explain my aids and the way the directional mics work. I my default program my aids work in Omni directional mode I hear everything around me that I have to capacity to hear. I also have a program for noisy areas that is directional in that I hear what the person that is directly in front of me talking, and it blocks background noise from the rest of the area. I also have a music program which has all filters turned off, and I hear everything around me with no filtering and no noise canceling. I also have a phone program that I am not using that much and will have removed seeing I use Bluetooth connections to my phones. When I go back in for my adjustments I have been told that it is possible to get a program that will increase my hearing to my right side when I am driving or when my wife and I are out eating. See I am left handed and my wife always sets to my right side.
This all depends on the way the hearing aids are programmed and the capability of the aids. Directional mics in my case work in Omni mode 99% of the time.

So you have directional aids, yet keep them in omni-directional most of the time. So this is not really using directional microphones… I have only one ear, I have problems with discrimination and directional abilities as it is. Focusing an aids mic in one direction is not going to be very conducive for me, as I am often in meetings and groups of people.

Appreciate your feedback!

@cvkemp said:

Let me try to explain my aids and the way the directional mics work. I my default program my aids work in Omni directional mode I hear everything around me that I have to capacity to hear. I also have a program for noisy areas that is directional in that I hear what the person that is directly in front of me talking, and it blocks background noise from the rest of the area. I also have a music program which has all filters turned off, and I hear everything around me with no filtering and no noise canceling. I also have a phone program that I am not using that much and will have removed seeing I use Bluetooth connections to my phones. When I go back in for my adjustments I have been told that it is possible to get a program that will increase my hearing to my right side when I am driving or when my wife and I are out eating. See I am left handed and my wife always sets to my right side.
This all depends on the way the hearing aids are programmed and the capability of the aids. Directional mics in my case work in Omni mode 99% of the time.

— Updated —

Let me try to explain my aids and the way the directional mics work. I my default program my aids work in Omni directional mode I hear everything around me that I have to capacity to hear. I also have a program for noisy areas that is directional in that I hear what the person that is directly in front of me talking, and it blocks background noise from the rest of the area. I also have a music program which has all filters turned off, and I hear everything around me with no filtering and no noise canceling. I also have a phone program that I am not using that much and will have removed seeing I use Bluetooth connections to my phones. When I go back in for my adjustments I have been told that it is possible to get a program that will increase my hearing to my right side when I am driving or when my wife and I are out eating. See I am left handed and my wife always sets to my right side.
This all depends on the way the hearing aids are programmed and the capability of the aids. Directional mics in my case work in Omni mode 99% of the time.

— Updated —

So you have directional aids, yet keep them in omni-directional most of the time. So this is not really using directional microphones… I have only one ear, I have problems with discrimination and directional abilities as it is. Focusing an aids mic in one direction is not going to be very conducive for me, as I am often in meetings and groups of people.

Appreciate your feedback!

@cvkemp said:

Let me try to explain my aids and the way the directional mics work. I my default program my aids work in Omni directional mode I hear everything around me that I have to capacity to hear. I also have a program for noisy areas that is directional in that I hear what the person that is directly in front of me talking, and it blocks background noise from the rest of the area. I also have a music program which has all filters turned off, and I hear everything around me with no filtering and no noise canceling. I also have a phone program that I am not using that much and will have removed seeing I use Bluetooth connections to my phones. When I go back in for my adjustments I have been told that it is possible to get a program that will increase my hearing to my right side when I am driving or when my wife and I are out eating. See I am left handed and my wife always sets to my right side.
This all depends on the way the hearing aids are programmed and the capability of the aids. Directional mics in my case work in Omni mode 99% of the time.

— Updated —

Let me try to explain my aids and the way the directional mics work. I my default program my aids work in Omni directional mode I hear everything around me that I have to capacity to hear. I also have a program for noisy areas that is directional in that I hear what the person that is directly in front of me talking, and it blocks background noise from the rest of the area. I also have a music program which has all filters turned off, and I hear everything around me with no filtering and no noise canceling. I also have a phone program that I am not using that much and will have removed seeing I use Bluetooth connections to my phones. When I go back in for my adjustments I have been told that it is possible to get a program that will increase my hearing to my right side when I am driving or when my wife and I are out eating. See I am left handed and my wife always sets to my right side.
This all depends on the way the hearing aids are programmed and the capability of the aids. Directional mics in my case work in Omni mode 99% of the time.

You really need the aids set to an Omni mode most of not all the time. I would get back to your audi and ensure that you have a Omni mode and that should be your default program.

In reply to @JeffBowser

@JeffBowser said:

Doc Jake is downright rude. One can be blunt and direct, as well as factual and educational, without being a raging asshole. I’ll continue to stand on this forum and call him out, regardless of his usefulness when he is not being a raging misanthropist.

As for basically same lines in another post - yep, and I’ll continue to call you out whenever you show your immature and unprofessional behavior as befitting your age and position.

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