Age-related hearing loss is a gradual loss of hearing in both ears and is quite common. In fact, one in three adults in the United States, between the ages of 65 and 75 years, has hearing loss.
It can be difficult to watch TV at an average volume with your loved ones or listen to the music on the radio without having to get it to a loud volume. In this case, it’s best to get a set of TV headphones to help you hear more clearly and avoid bothering others.
Many different headphones are available on the market, and not all are suitable for seniors with hearing loss. It’s important to know which ones to choose from, so we’ve reviewed six of the best TV headphones for seniors.
If you’re in a hurry, the SIMOLIO Hearing Protection Wireless TV Headphones is our top pick.
If you are hearing impaired, you may also want to check our posts about TV speakers for hard of hearing and hearing amplifiers.
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Reviews of Best TV Headphones for Seniors
1. SIMOLIO Hearing Protection Wireless TV Headphones—Best Overall
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The SIMOLIO TV Headphones are specially designed for seniors with hearing problems. They have voice highlighting and noise reduction technology that makes TV conversations clear and easy to understand—and at a safe volume not to damage your hearing even more.
They also have balance control, making them perfect for those with different hearing levels in the right and left ears. The headphones for older adults are designed to offer you the utmost comfort, with ergonomically designed protein earmuffs and a retractable soft-padded headband.
The SIMOLIO headphones also don’t need to pair; you can simply turn on both devices, and they will automatically connect to each other. This is great for seniors who are not tech-savvy. The battery life also provides up to 10 hours working on a single charge.
A MIC button is designed as an additional feature to help you hear what people around you are saying when watching TV without removing the headphones. They let you move freely up to 100 feet away from the TV or radio, so you can still be listening to it even when you’re away from the device and cooking in the kitchen.
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Voice highlight and noise reduction technology.
- Balance control feature.
- Ergonomically designed earmuffs and softly padded headband for comfort.
- 100 feet connection range.
Cons
- Low battery life compared to other TV headphones on the market.
- Poor instruction manual.
2. Avantree Opera Wireless Headphones for TV—Close Second
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The Avantree Opera wireless TV headphones for older adults are our runner-up because of their wide range of connectivity.
They work with most Smart TVs and offer an enhanced listening experience, thanks to the three equalizer presets that can emphasize speech or music for a balanced sound. We also like the bypass function that you can enjoy the programs with your family members together.
They’re made with people that have hearing loss problems in mind and allow you to individually enhance the TV volume so you can hear the conversations clearly in each ear.
The headphones are designed with an adjustable headband, swiveling earcups, soft protein leather earpads, and are lightweight while still highly durable.
They’re easy to use and charge; you just simply put the headphones onto the charging device, which is also the transmitter, and when the battery is fully recharged, you can use the headphones for up to 35 hours.
Pros
- 164 feet range.
- Ergonomic design with adjustable headband.
- Lightweight.
- Features 3 EQ presets to enhance your listening experience.
- Audio bypass to use multiple devices on the TV.
- Long battery life.
Cons
- It can be a bit difficult to set up for the first time, and help might be needed.
3. HSPRO Wireless TV Headphones—Best On a Budget
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The HSPRO Wireless TV Headphones are an over-ear headset that has a premium stereo sound quality. Even better, it is pocket-friendly for seniors.
The adjustable bracket, ultra-soft earpads, and lightweight design will ensure you’re comfortable wearing them even for several hours per day, binge-watching your favorite show or movie.
They’re easy to use, and you can charge them by simply putting them on the charging stand for 6 hours until they’re fully charged again. The two Ni-Mh batteries are eco-friendly and built into the headphones to offer up to 25 hours of runtime.
Pros
- Affordable price.
- Low latency within a 100-foot range.
- Includes dual 40mm, dynamic drivers, delivering rich and authentic sound quality with powerful bass and a full range from 20 to 20KHz.
- Comfortable and ergonomically designed.
Cons
- Low battery life compared to other headphone models.
- Some users had problems with the power button.
4. SENNHEISER SET840 -TV RF Stereo TV Assistive Listening Headphones System—Most Durable
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The SENNHEISER set840 Headphones are slightly different from the traditional over-the-ear headphones, as they’re worn just like a stethoscope on the ears.
They’re specially made for people with hearing problems, as they offer three selectable hearing settings on the transmitter to optimize speech. While it has a higher price tag, it is a wireless headphone with great sound quality and can last for years.
These lightweight headphones are also one of the few new headphone models that can be connected to older TVs because of their RF stereo TV listening system.
The flu exile ear pads and ergonomic controls make them comfortable to wear. Certain operations give visual feedback, making these headphones easy to use even for the elderly.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear.
- Easy to use.
- Connects with most new Smart TVs as well as with older TV models.
- Three hearing settings to optimize speech.
- 100 feet range.
Cons
- High price point.
- The headphones don’t block out the noises from your surroundings.
5. Bonein Hearing Wireless TV Headphones—Most Lightweight
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The Bonein Hearing Wireless TV Headphones are specially designed for the elderly to watch TV or make phone calls and communicate. In other words, you can use it as a hearing amplifier.
They’re designed for seniors who have age-related hearing loss and are lightweight and worn outside the ear.
What makes this headphone apart from other models is that it amplify the sound through the skull, which will not aggravate and worsen the hearing loss for the elderly. But because of this feature, you can hear some noise from your surroundings if you are not in a quiet place.
The wireless TV headset connects to digital or analog TVs. The transmitter T10 can be connected to the TV or phone through an audio cable and is easy to use and set up.
However, it’s important to note that these headphones are effective for those who have their hearing impaired due to aging eardrums; they’re not as effective for people who have hearing loss due to aging ear nerves.
Pros
- Easy to use.
- The transmitter and headphone set is connected automatically, so no pairing is required.
- Designed for seniors that have hearing loss due to aging eardrums.
- Lightweight and ergonomic design.
- Good battery capacity.
Cons
- The headphones aren’t effective with those that have hearing loss due to aging ear nerve problems.
- They shouldn’t be worn for longer periods of time (maximum 1.5 to 2 hours) due to health concerns.
6. Avantree HT4186 Wireless Headphones Earbuds for TV Watching—Best Earbuds for TV Watching
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The Avantree HT4186 wireless headphones for seniors are ideal for those who prefer earbuds over traditional headphones. They’re compatible with most TVs on the market and support various audio outputs without any additional wires getting in the way.
They’re also straightforward to use, perfect for the elderly as there’s no worrying about pairing. Simply switch on the headphones and transmitter, and they’ll automatically connect to the TV or radio.
The headphones are designed and built for a balanced sound with an emphasis on clarity and feature FastStream technology, allowing you to reduce Bluetooth delays. These headphones have a 100-foot connectivity range, and the battery life is exceptional—you can use them for up to 20 hours before you need to recharge them again.
Pros
- No need to worry about pairing, as they will auto-connect to the device.
- FastStream technology reduces sound delays.
- 100 feet connectivity range.
- 20 hours of battery life.
- Compatible with most TVs on the market.
Cons
- Not loud enough for those with severe hearing impairment.
What To Look for When Buying TV Headphones for Seniors
Balance and Hearing Protection
It’s crucial you opt for a headphone set that comes with hearing protection, meaning that they keep the overall volume of TV/music at a safe level. Seniors with hearing issues might be tempted to turn the volume up too much and impact their hearing loss even further.
Another feature that some headphones offer is balance control, which is especially useful for people with different hearing levels in both ears or hearing loss in just one ear.
Comfortable and Lightweight
Headphones should be lightweight; if they’re too heavy, they can cause discomfort and neck pain.
Another thing to consider when it comes to the overall comfort of the headphones is that they should have a soft, padded headband and ergonomically designed earmuffs, so wearing them for multiple hours a day doesn’t cause any discomfort or pain.
Easy To Use
Headphone sets can be quite difficult to understand and use, with multiple functions and different connectivity options. Most seniors won’t be comfortable using a complicated high-tech headphone set and will most likely give up before they even try it out.
Simple headphones that are easy to use with no high-tech options will be the best TV headphones for seniors.
Compatibility
Although most headphones today are designed to connect with all the latest Smart TVs. It’s still better to be safe than sorry, so check compatibility with your TV before you choose to purchase a pair. （See also our picks for best TVs for seniors)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Headphones Good for Seniors?
Yes, they can be very helpful, especially when you don’t hear well anymore due to age.
With headphones, seniors are able to hear conversations in movies and TV shows more clearly and enjoys listening to their favorite music. But it’s essential to keep the volume at safe levels so you don’t damage your eardrums even more.
You can always opt for headphones with noise reduction technology to keep the volume at safe levels.
Do Wireless Headphones Give Off Radiation?
Wireless Bluetooth devices such as headphones give off a low level of nonionizing radiation. According to the FDA, routine exposure to a low level of radiation is perceived as harmless to humans.
The Winner
Our winner for the best TV headphones for seniors is the SIMOLIO Hearing Protection Wireless TV Headphones that were specially designed for seniors with hearing problems in mind. They have voice highlighting and noise reduction technology that’ll keep the volume at a safe level to avoid damaging your hearing even more.
The balance control feature is another great thing about these headphones, as it makes them ideal for those who have different hearing levels in the right and left ears.
They’re also designed to offer you the utmost comfort, with ergonomically designed protein earmuffs and a retractable soft-padded headband. This way, you can wear them for longer periods of time to binge-watch your favorite show and not feel any pain or discomfort.
