Why It’s Hard to Hear in Background Noise

shaneaudio
May 7
2 min read

Have you ever passed a hearing test but still struggle to follow conversations in noisy places like cafés, restaurants, or family gatherings?

You’re not imagining it—and you’re definitely not alone.

🎧 Hearing in Noise Is a Brain-Heavy Task

Understanding speech in background noise isn’t just about your ears—it’s a complex process involving your brain’s ability to separate speech from competing sounds.

Even if you technically have “normal hearing” based on a standard test (which usually checks frequencies from 250 Hz to 8000 Hz), you can still find it difficult to:

Follow group conversations
Hear someone calling you from across a room
Tune out background music or chatter

This is especially common in adults over 40, or in those with a history of noise exposure (e.g. concerts, machinery, loud workplaces).

🧠 Hidden Hearing Loss and Auditory Processing

In some cases, the problem lies in what's known as hidden hearing loss—damage to the nerves that carry sound from the ear to the brain, which isn't detected on standard hearing tests.

Other times, the brain’s ability to process sound (called auditory processing) becomes less efficient with age, fatigue, or cognitive strain.

🔍 We Go Beyond the Standard Test

At Aurora Audiology, we understand that “normal” test results don’t always mean normal hearing in real-life situations. That’s why we offer Extended High-Frequency Testing as part of our advanced assessments.

What Is Extended High-Frequency Testing?

This test measures how well you hear very high-pitched sounds (above 8000 Hz)—frequencies that play an important role in:

Speech clarity
Understanding soft consonants like “s”, “f”, or “th”
Localising where sounds are coming from
Picking out speech in noise

Many clinics don’t test these frequencies, but they often hold early clues to hearing changes—especially for people who are otherwise “borderline” on standard tests.

✅ What You Can Do

If you’re finding conversations in background noise frustrating or exhausting, don’t dismiss it. We can help you get to the root of the problem with a full hearing and listening assessment—not just a basic screen.

Modern hearing technology can be tailored to your needs, including: