Many individuals complain that they have trouble hearing in competing noise with their hearing aids. They often complain that the other sounds interfere with the speech they are trying to hear. New technology is available to help reduce unwanted background noise.

     One way to reduce unwanted background noise is to order hearing aids with directional microphones. The user can flip a switch to reduce unwanted noise from behind. They will still hear the sound coming from the front. This is very helpful in noisy restaurants and other environments when a person wants to reduce unwanted noise from behind, but hear the people at their own table. If the individual wants to hear sounds from all directions, then they can flip the switch back to the regular setting. The second method of reducing noise is to use circuitry designed to reduce noise. Some circuits are designed to detect and reduce non-speech sounds that may interfere with the speech that the person wants to hear. Using this type of noise reduction circuitry, coupled with directional microphones, can be very helpful for an active person who has to hear well in different environments.