In this monthly column, audiologist from Nortwest Ohio Hearing Clinic offer "Sound Advice" on issues affecting hearing and hearing health.
Q: I’m having trouble hearing on my Zoom meeting calls. What can I do?
A: By now, many of us have had the frustration of logging on to a Zoom meeting and not being able to make out what others on the line are saying or having others not be able to make out what we’re saying. Sometimes the issue is technical (microphone turned off, etc.), and sometimes the issue is poor audio quality due to several factors. I won’t get into the technical issues here, but here are some simple ways to improve audio quality during Zoom meetings:
1. Keep your background quiet for your calls, and ask those on the other end to do the same. Environmental sounds (air conditioners, dogs barking, wind noise if you’re sitting outside, other people talking) can be picked up by the microphone and interfere with audio quality. Those sounds may not seem loud to you, but they will be loud to the person listening through your microphone.
2. Mute your microphone when you’re not speaking and remind others to do the same.
3. A wired headset with a builtin microphone will improve audio quality for the presenter as well as anyone else speaking on the call. Wired headsets will also give improved quality, replacing the computer speaker.
4. Lastly, check your internet connection. If it’s not strong enough, it could cause garbled voices or speech delays. Close unused programs and tabs on your computer before your call. Moving closer to your router, if possible, may help. Ask others in your household to avoid online activities that use a lot of bandwidth while you’re on your call.
Zoom meetings have become the norm for work meetings as well as family get-togethers during the COVID pandemic. When audio quality is poor, everyone loses out. The good news is that there are some simple ways to improve audio quality. Try out the troubleshooting tips above to help you hear and be heard during your next Zoom meeting. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at Northwest Ohio Hearing Clinic. We look forward to hearing from you!
Shelly Horvat, AuD, CCC-A, is a Doctor of Audiology with Northwest Ohio Hearing Clinic, located at 1125 Hospital Dr., Suite 50 in Toledo (419-383-4012) and 1601 Brigham Dr., Suite 160 in Perrysburg (419-873-4327).
