Can anyone recommend computer headphones?

Hello @nancsw, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I haven't had my hearing tested for awhile but I think I probably have a hearing loss since I'm always told the TV is on too loud 🙂 Bose headphones are really great but a little too expensive for me. I have a friend who has a hearing aid and uses them for watching TV. A few months ago I purchased a Plantronics wired headset that uses the mic and speaker inputs on my computer that I like really well - https://www.plantronics.com/in/en/product/audio-355. You can also get similar headsets that use bluetooth if your computer has bluetooth. I use it for conference calls over the computer. I'm looking for a webcam so that I can aslo use it for Zoom meetings with the video which now forces me to use my laptop where the webcam, mic and speakers are all included.

The decision probably boils down to how much you want to pay. I like the quality of the high end stuff like Bose. I just don't like paying the price when there are alternatives that work just as well. I might think differently if I had perfect hearing and was listening to music and needed to hear the really high and low frequencies.

Headphones are problematic for those who wear hearing aids, but I'm interested to know if any HOH individuals have tried trading their hearing aids for headphones connecting to the computer or TV. I haven't, but would like to know if it can be done. Also I have greater hearing loss on one side and am wondering if headphones could be adjusted for my particular problem. I would be cautious about putting headphones on over my hearing aids due to feedback, which in my experience is excruciating.

@ner I have a friend who has hearing aids with bluetooth device that hangs around his neck that connects his hearing aid to different electronic devices - TV, cell phone, etc...

I bought a set of DJ headphones. Just one sided, but with all channels on that side. They work the best for me for my computer and music.

If you have hearing aids that are equipped with telecoils, you may want to purchase a basic neckloop. You can plug the neckloop into the computer just as you would headphones. Then, put the loop around your neck, turn your telecoils on and bingo. You should hear well. That neckloop also works with cell phones and other audio devices. Quite honestly, it should be standard equipment that comes with hearing aids that have t-coils. A quality Willliams Sound neckloop sells for around $55.

That device he wears around his neck is probably an induction loop or neckloop. Most BlueTooth devices plug into an audio source and broadcast directly to hearing aids with BT capability. The technology continues to change, but that good old fashioned induction loop that works with the telecoils in hearing aids still does the trick and doesn't cost a fortune.

Stimulating conversation, thanks to everyone.

@ner, any piece of Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT) that uses your hearing aids will give you the best results. Your hearing aids are tuned to your hearing loss. All of the big name hearing aid manufacturers can sell you a device that plugs (or not) into your computer or TV that will stream the audio directly into your hearing aids. I mention the "or not" case since you can buy a remote microphone that is specific to your manufacturer. In this case, you place the remote mic near the TV or computer speaker to stream the audio to your hearing aids. The biggest drawback of going the "manufacturer specific" route is that if you change to a different manufacturer of hearing aids in the future, you'll have to buy their product to attach to the computer or TV. Every manufacturer uses a propriety signal to connect to their aids. There is no standard. Also, the manufacturers take us to the cleaners when it comes to this additional hardware that is needed. We pay more than we should. I say this because I don't think this hardware is considered a medical device. I'm not certain. However, we typically have to buy this manufacturer specify hardware from a third party (your audiologist), which adds an additional markup. A universal solution (non manufacturer specific) would be to use an induction loop. @julie04 already responded about this. You need to make sure your aids have a telecoil. If you can find headphones that do not feedback when you have your hearing aids in, an FM system is an option.
Tony in Michigan

Tony in MI, once again you've provided great info! However, I continue to believe that what we deafies really need is a manual to lead us through all the underbrush of various types/makes of aids and all their accessories!

You've just mentioned mics that pair with a specific brand of aid. Had one, tried using it, worked with my aid (which has a telecoil), but wasn't strong enough to even pick up TV audio when placed right in front of the TV speaker. Failed miserably during meetings. I finally just gave up on it.

Several people, you included, have mentioned induction loops. which apparently are useful WITHOUT needing to be purchased specifically for your brand of aid. The Williams induction loop has been mentioned often, as has the Williams Pocketalker (which seems to have received mixed reviews from people on this forum).

Am I correct in assuming that, if I buy a Williams loop and Pocketalker that it will simply work with my Bernefon (Oticon) aid?

Again, I'd be more than willing to do the work and front the costs to produce a simple manual for people who need aids and all their accessories. I don't doubt that it would have a small market--i.e., I'd eventually earn back the cost of publishing it. Decades ago, I nagged VEDA into publishing three books about inner ear disease and subsequently saw posts from people who had benefitted from them. In that case I edited, designed, prepared for printing, found the printer, and managed the distribution for VEDA, but didn't front the cost. Yes, books are "old school" these days...except for manuals or "how to" books that are not for reading but for reference. There's also a tiny market for books that are stunningly beautiful, and am working on one of those right now. Hard to discourage book designers!

Loops, whether they be room loops or personal neckloops are not brand specific. All they need is to relate to telecoils in personal hearing devices; cochlear processors or hearing aids. I've mentioned Williams Sound only because I've had good success with them. They have enough power to allow the volume I need. There are other personal neckloops that use batteries that allow volume adjustment. Also some other products I've tried w/o batteries that do not have sufficient power to generate the volume I need. You can actually construct a neckloop out of telephone wire attached to an input jack if you're electronically creative. Not recommended, but pointing out that it's very basic technology. The key to this is the telecoil in the hearing aid or CI processor. THAT also has to have sufficient power to be effective. Far too many hearing aid fitters diss the value of telecoils. Perhaps the reason for that is that it's more profitable to sell clients on BlueTooth and other means of connectivity. Telecoils have been in hearing aids since the 1940s, and effectively connected people to landline phones of that era. The hearing aids then were much larger than what we have now, so including the T-coil component was much easier. When 'small' became the goal and 'tiny' became the greater goal, it became difficult to find space in hearing aids to include it. Thus, for a few decades it was left out. The movement to go back to loops and telecoils started in earnest in the late 90s and has been growing as people with hearing loss have started talking about their needs. Still, providers will refer to this a 'old technology'. YOU HAVE TO TRY IT TO SEE HOW IT WORKS FOR YOU. If they do not physically demonstrate it for their clients, the clients leave without any knowledge of what a telecoil is capable of. Providers should be required by law to fully explain and demonstrate what a telecoil is capable of doing. That is a law in 9 states now, thanks to HLAA advocates, but this movement needs more support in all states. Things like this will change ONLY when the people who benefit from that change speak up and are heard.