The holiday season is right around the corner, and if you have hearing loss you know that this can be the hardest time of the year. Rather than spend the next few weeks dreading the family dinners and office parties, use these tips to look forward to this holiday season, catch up with loved ones, and enjoy the festivities without being stressed.
Picking the Perfect Place
Family gatherings can be very loud, with people in several rooms, clattering from the kitchen, and children running between everyone. To get the most out of your time, and be able to catch up with someone you haven’t seen in a while, choosing the right place can make all the difference. Find somewhere without a lot of background noise, so you can focus easily on the conversation you’re having.
Avoid the kitchen, since it’s often crowded, with people coming in and out frequently. Find a quiet corner, or take your conversation to a different room. Having one-on-one conversations, or talking to just a couple people at a time will help you have meaningful conversations, and allow you to hear clearly.
If the party is at your house, set up a few seating areas, and use more than one room, so your guests can socialize in several smaller groups rather than one large group. It will be easier for everyone to have good conversations, and will also reduce noise levels since no one will have to shout to be heard.
Turn Down the Music
Whether the party is at your home or someone else’s, try to keep the background music turned down. You may only get to listen to your favorite holiday albums once a year, but you don’t have to blast them at the family dinner. If it’s too loud it will make conversation difficult for everyone, even those who don’t have hearing loss. To avoid having the music distract people from conversations, turn the speakers away from the areas where people are hanging out, or trying to talk. Do yourself a favor and lower the volume so everyone can communicate easily.
At the Dinner Table
If you struggle to hear, you know that hearing someone at the other end of the dinner table can be a struggle. If you have a round table, pull it out for the holidays. Being able to read facial cues or read lips will be a huge help in keeping up with the conversations around the table. You could also consider using several tables. The kids might appreciate having their own table, and the adults will enjoy not having to spend all of dinner shushing their children.
Before dinner, pick a dinner buddy, someone you understand clearly, who is willing to sit with you. If you miss a question, or can’t quite understand what’s been said, they can give you a little help when you need it, and make sure you don’t miss anything important.
Ask Your Guests About their Hearing Needs
If you’re expecting guests who have hearing loss, check in with them ahead of time to see if there are any other ways you can help them have a great time. You ask your guests about their dietary needs, so why not extend that to accessibility needs as well?
If you’re going to a party and you’re worried about your hearing, take the time to notify your hosts of your hearing needs. Having a simple conversation could make all the difference between struggling to hear and having an enjoyable day. Chances are they’ll be happy to hear your suggestions for seating arrangements, or be willing to turn down the volume, so don’t be shy in asking for what you need.
How Hearing Aids Help at Holiday Events
If you have hearing loss and are dreading this holiday season, the best decision you can make is to get hearing aids. Today’s hearing devices offer advanced programs and features such as speech recognition and noise cancelation that will help you get through family dinners with ease. Not only that, but we have models that are so small the only thing the family will notice is how much your hearing has improved. Visit us today at My Hearing Centers for a hearing assessment and consultation, and enjoy the holidays without stressing about your hearing.