Headset for hearing impaired.

[Builds By Baz]

I have hearing aids, but I get by without them day to day because they are a pain in the arse. However, it does make me struggle a bit in any conversation where people are not being clear, or there is other noise around.

 

I'm a little concerned that learning the radio comms may be even harder because of this.

 

so my question are 1,  should I wear hearing aids under the headset or not and 2, what headsets are recommended for a student pilot looking forward to PPL?

 

Baz.

 

 

P.S. Please don't fight this time hey fellas?

 

[sfGnome]

Make sure that your instructors know that you have a hearing issue, and beg them to let you use a good noise cancelling headset (I’m sure they’ll have them, if only for themselves). My hearing ain’t what it used to be, and good headsets make the world of difference. My Lightspeed headset has tuneable equalisers so I can boost the higher frequencies. Helps with clarity, which is what you need when the other aircraft’s radio sounds like “bzzzfgzz”…

[BrendAn]

Sfgnome is on the money.

Definitely noise cancelling headset.

I have hearing loss too and my normal headset is not good but my noise cancelling set lets me hear everything.

 

[Marty_d]

Do you wear hearing aids while flying?

Also interested as my hearing isn't the best and I'll be getting them soon.

[Thruster88]

Baz, I think you will be fine with an ANR headset as others have said. Hearing aids probably not needed as background noise is removed and volume can be set as needed. I have older lightspeed and bose a30 both excellent. 

 

LiveATC is an app that will allow you to listen to all the canberra frequencies.

[409tonner]

I agree with all the above. I was having trouble hearing radio calls when I was learning to fly . I also have hearing aids but like you I rarely use them . I bought ANR Lightspeeds and can hear calls clearly now. I tried using hearing aids with them for a trial but found they didn’t improve my hearing with the ANR headset . I can also hear my engine better as the headset removes the wind noise.

[Builds By Baz]

Thanks guys. 

 

Baz.

[facthunter]

Almost everyone has their OWN headset. Get what YOU need.. Don't leave it sitting around. Nev

[BrendAn]

1 hour ago, Builds By Baz said:

Thanks guys. 

 

Baz.

Have a look at and headsets in the shop on this site. Great value and getting good reviews 

[CT9000]

And talk to Ian, he actually tests these products and so knows what works.

[FlyBoy1960]

I will ask my son. He has a little box that plugs into the microphone jacks and runs from a 9 volt batery. 

 

There is one cord coming out that has a microphone attached which goes on like a secretary wears and the sound gets Bluetooth transmitted directly into his hearing aids. He reckons that bone induction headsets might also work. if he turns the hearing aids off.

[facthunter]

My hearing Aids don't like Phone use either. In the 60s the C-172's just had a speaker and a Microphone. Nev

[max]

On 04/08/2026 at 1:50 PM, Builds By Baz said:

 

 

That's a really important topic. For anyone dealing with hearing loss in the cockpit, active noise reduction (ANR) combined with good digital audio filtering or customizable frequency profiles can make a massive difference in intelligibility. Has anyone here had experience with specific in-ear ANR solutions or specialized headsets that boost higher frequencies where age or engine-induced hearing loss usually hits first?

[max]

On 07/08/2026 at 3:01 PM, max said:

That's a really important topic. For anyone dealing with hearing loss in the cockpit, active noise reduction (ANR) combined with good digital audio filtering or customizable frequency profiles can make a massive difference in intelligibility. Has anyone here had experience with specific in-ear ANR solutions or specialized headsets that boost higher frequencies where age or engine-induced hearing loss usually hits first? Head over to the website to explore our platform and claim a rewarding welcome bonus.
 

It's honestly amazing how much clearer comms get once you find the right setup, since missing a single radio call due to cockpit drone is the last thing anyone needs up there.

[bushcaddy105]

For years I have used ANR headset over hearing aids. My latest aids (12 months old) have a much improved app on my phone which allows me to further bring speech to the fore of background noise and comfortably receive most info I need. The worst case? RPT jockeys who rattle off calls like a machine gun. I have deliberately asked some to "say again at half speed", which then approaches normal speech.