If you wear hearing aids but still struggle to follow conversations in noisy places – cafés, family gatherings, restaurants – you’re not alone. In fact, this is one of the most common frustrations we hear in clinic.
So why does this happen, and what can actually help?
The short answer: hearing is about more than just your ears. Your brain plays a huge role — especially when there’s background noise involved.
Hearing vs Listening: What’s the Difference?
Hearing aids can do an excellent job of making sounds louder and clearer. But even with perfectly fitted devices, many people still find it hard to understand speech in noise.
That’s because understanding speech isn’t just about volume – it’s about how your brain processes sound. When there’s background noise, your brain has to work harder to separate speech from everything else going on. Over time, especially with hearing loss, this skill can weaken.
This Is Where Auditory Training Comes In
Auditory training is essentially exercise for the parts of your brain that process speech and sound. One example that’s been gaining attention is the LACE Ai Pro program (Listening and Communication Enhancement).
LACE has been around in various forms for over 20 years and is designed to help people improve their ability to understand speech — particularly in challenging environments. However, LACE training is now available as a phone app, making it more accessible and engaging!
The goal isn’t to “fix” your hearing, but to help your brain get better at processing the information it receives and improving your ability to filter out background noise, keep up with fast talkers, and reduce general listening effort and fatigue.
What Does LACE Training Actually Involve?
LACE Ai Pro is app-based and typically used for 15–30 minutes a day. The exercises adapt to your ability level and gradually become more challenging as you improve.
- Training activities include:
- Listening to speech with background noise
- Understanding fast or accented speech
- Improving auditory memory
- Practising listening without visual cues
You can choose different content topics (from general knowledge to light, fun material), which helps keep the training engaging and enjoyable, rather than repetitive.
Does It Actually Work?
Auditory training isn’t a magic fix — but it is supported by plenty of research. Studies show that structured listening training like LACE can improve speech-in-noise understanding and listening confidence, particularly when used alongside well-fitted hearing aids.
Importantly, the biggest improvements tend to come from consistent use. Like going to the gym, doing one session won’t change much — but regular practice adds up.
Who Might Benefit Most?
Auditory training can be useful for:
- Hearing aid users who still struggle in noisy settings
- People who feel mentally exhausted after conversations
- Those who say, “I can hear people talking, but I can’t understand them”
- Individuals motivated to actively improve their listening skills
It’s not just for people with severe hearing loss — even those with mild hearing loss or auditory processing difficulties may benefit.
How This Fits into Holistic Hearing Solutions’ Service
We know that great hearing care goes beyond just hearing devices. Hearing aids are a crucial tool, but they’re only one piece of a complicated puzzle. Supporting the brain’s ability to listen, focus, and process sound is just as important, and now that we are an authorised supplier of LACE AI, we have even more ways to help you hear your best!
Auditory training programs like LACE Ai Pro are one of several options we may recommend depending on your goals, listening challenges, and lifestyle. If you’ve ever thought, “My hearing aids work, but noisy places are still hard”, you’re not failing — your brain just might need a bit of extra support. If you’re curious about whether auditory training could help you, we’re always happy to talk it through and help you decide what’s right for you.
