My hearing specialist says I have normal hearing, but I still struggle to hear when there is a lot of background noise. What can I do?

Reviewed by:
Published on:
June 16, 2026

Some people with normal hearing find it difficult to separate the sounds they want to hear from other background noises. More specialised hearing assessments will often show a problem with the sound going to the brain rather than a problem with the ears. Low-volume hearing aids and remote microphones can help in this situation.

At Resonate, we offer an Ear360 appointment where we focus on much more than just the usual hearing assessments. We also look at your ability to understand speech in noise and to what extent this impacts you. If this is an area of concern for you, we'll offer you expert advice and referrals for treatment. Book your Ear360 appointment today.

If this sounds like you, you might also want to understand ‘why speech sounds like mumbling’, as both can point to the same underlying issue. And if you do end up trying hearing aids, our guide to navigating everyday life with hearing aids is a useful read, alongside more articles on the Hearing Health category page.

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My hearing specialist says I have normal hearing, but I still struggle to hear when there is a lot of background noise. What can I do?

Written by:
Reviewed by:
Blog length:
 min read
Published:
November 11, 2022
Updated:
June 13, 2026
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