What should be adjusted if a patient hears tables behind them too loudly in a clinic?

When a patient perceives sounds from behind them, such as tables or conversations, as too loud, this can indicate that the hearing aid's settings do not appropriately manage the incoming sound levels in that direction. Adjusting the compression kneepoint can address this issue effectively.

The compression kneepoint is the threshold at which the hearing aid begins to reduce amplification of louder sounds. If a patient is hearing ambient noise, such as tables behind them, too loudly, it suggests that their hearing aid's compression isn't activating when those sounds exceed a specific loudness. By adjusting the compression kneepoint, the hearing aid can become more effective in managing these sounds, allowing for a more comfortable listening experience by lowering the amplification of background noises while maintaining the clarity of sounds coming from the front.

While other options relate to different aspects of hearing aid functionality, they would not directly address the issue of hearing objects or conversations from behind the patient at an uncomfortable volume. Adjusting the volume level alone might not solve the issue if the sounds are still within a range that the hearing aid is amplifying. Feedback cancellation settings are meant to address whistling or distortion, and earwax blockage is a physical factor that usually affects sound quality, not the directionality of