Be The Heart (and Ears) of The Party
When you have hearing loss, holiday events can mean difficult listening situations. Here are some tips to help you hear conversations better and enjoy the holiday spirit without worrying about your hearing loss.
First, if you have hearing aids, we strongly encourage you to wear them at your next holiday gathering. In noisy environments, you may think that your hearing aids will only make music and ambient noise louder, but modern digital hearing aids are much more than just sound amplifiers. They are designed to filter out unwanted noise and reduce background noise and distortion, helping you focus on speech. So don’t forget to wear your hearing aids!
Here are some other tips to help you make the most of the holiday season.
Improve the Auditory Environment
The auditory environment is a significant part of speech comprehension for people with hearing loss. Don’t hesitate to ask those around you to help you make listening easier in noisy environments.
Find a quiet spot
Avoid getting too close to loud speakers and noisy kitchens. Identify the quietest places in the house to hold your conversations.
Watch as many faces as possible
Watching the gestures and faces of the people talking to you is a great way to practice lip reading, which will help you understand what’s being said. Try to optimize lighting and move decorations that prevent you from seeing people around the table during the meal.
Designate a partner
Find a friend or family member who can repeat anything you didn’t hear so you can feel more confident participating actively in a conversation.
Reduce Ambient Noise
Background noise makes it more difficult to listen, especially when there are lively conversations, music and clattering dishes all around you. When noise increases, we all tend to speak louder, which can be a challenge for people with hearing loss.
Turn down music volume
Nearly everyone enjoys traditional holiday songs, but they can make listening difficult.
Postpone dishwashing
If possible, ask your host to leave dishwashing for later. For people with hearing loss, the sounds of dishes can be uncomfortable and distracting.
Turn off the TV
It’s a major distraction and makes listening difficult.
Help Others Help You
People around you may not always know the best way to help you, so be clear about what you need them to do. Think about it: your host has prepared dinner and organized everything so you can have an enjoyable evening. Why not help them by sharing your needs so that you can enjoy a peaceful and fun holiday season too?