Hearing loss and television

1. August 2025

6 minutes reading time

Hear better while watching TV

You know how it is: things are just getting dramatic in the movie, the hero of the story finally confesses to his beloved that he... but why doesn't he speak more clearly? He can hardly be understood from the TV chair. Then the garbage truck drives past on the street outside - and all the tension is gone.

Why can't the sound be as clear as if the actors were in the room? Why does everything sound so flat and is so difficult to distinguish? The days when you instinctively moved closer to the TV when it was important should really be over. And to be honest: simply turning up the sound is no solution either. The noise is no fun, and you can't really hear the actors any better.

If you are one of the 15% of people who suffer from hearing loss, watching TV can be a real challenge. But don't worry: we have a few tips for you on how to hear better while watching TV.

Why is the sound on the TV often difficult to understand?

Hearing loss and hearing problems are not always the only factors that affect the viewing experience. Modern TV sets with their slim, space-saving designs often have small built-in speakers that cannot reproduce the TV sound optimally. Dialogue can sound indistinct and flat, while music and sounds can be overwhelming.

But the way in which sound is produced for films and TV shows has also changed. More sound effects, atmospheres and special effects are being used to create an impressive cinematic experience. The result? You have trouble understanding the dialog.

Hearing poorly while watching TV:

What problems can occur?

If you suffer from hearing loss, watching TV can bring additional challenges. Here are some of the most common problems:

Difficulty understanding dialog in background noise
The need to turn up the volume to hear the TV sound, which can be distracting for others in the house
Problems distinguishing between sounds and voices

Hear better while watching TV:

These tips can help

Select the right volume: First of all, you should check that the TV is set to the right volume. This makes it easier to understand and can also prevent hearing fatigue.
Find the right position: To be able to hear better while watching TV, you should sit as centrally as possible and at a suitable distance from your TV set. If the TV is too far away, it can quickly become too quiet. If you sit too close to it, the sound can be overwhelming.
Improve the room acoustics: With a few simple tricks, you can improve the room acoustics and thus reduce disturbing background noise. For example, close your curtains to absorb the sound. Well-placed carpets, for example on tiled floors, can achieve the same effect.
Select the appropriate audio settings: Some televisions offer the option of selecting different modes in the audio settings to customize the TV sound. This includes "Clear speech", for example.
Use technical aids: Technical aids such as the OSKAR TV sound amplifier from faller audio can help you to hear better while watching TV. With the portable TV loudspeaker, you can take the TV sound with you to your listening position. Thanks to special speech optimization, it also filters out background noise.
Switch on subtitles: Many TV channels or streaming providers offer subtitles. This gives you the opportunity to visually support what is being said and understand words that you may not be able to hear.

Better hearing while watching TV: with modern technology

There are various solutions, aids and technology for hearing impaired people that can help them to hear better while watching TV. These range from hearing aids to special hearing systems such as TV headphones and TV soundbars.

Hearing aids

Many modern hearing aids can be paired directly with your TV to send the sound straight to your ear. This improves the volume of the sounds you hear. However, hearing aids are often designed to amplify speech and ambient noise, which is why speech is still difficult to understand when watching TV with a hearing aid.

TV headphones

Wireless headphones or chin-strap headphones can also be a helpful solution. However, wearing such headphones can be uncomfortable, especially during long TV evenings. In addition, they cannot usually be used in combination with hearing aids.

TV sound amplifier

Portable TV sound amplifiers such as the OSKAR help you to hear better while watching TV. The handy and user-friendly device has a special technology that transmits even the quietest sound to the couch, but also to the next room or bathroom, as if it were being spoken "live" there. Crystal clear. Background noise is filtered out and voices are optimized. So you suddenly understand every word again. Even if you wear hearing aids.

Proactive measures to support your hearing

If you want to hear better while watching TV, you should first check your own hearing. If you have hearing problems, you should communicate this openly and seek help.

Regular hearing tests

A regular hearing test with your doctor or hearing care professional is a good way to keep an eye on the condition of your hearing. This way, you can determine whether your hearing loss is worsening and whether your current hearing aids are still sufficient and take appropriate measures in good time to protect your hearing.

Open communication

Communicate openly about your hearing loss with your family and friends. They can help you to make your viewing experience more enjoyable, for example by being considerate of the volume or helping you to set up hearing aids.

Find out more about the OSKAR TV sound processor now