The holidays are coming up soon, and big family get-togethers and dinners in crowded restaurants can prove particularly tough for people with hearing loss. Everybody is talking loudly and at the same time.
It becomes even more difficult for individuals with hearing loss when you add other noises like background music, dishes clattering, and chairs scraping. If you have a hard time hearing from one or both ears, or you use a hearing aid, there are several steps you can take to make these big, noisy gatherings more enjoyable for you and your family.
Before Gatherings, Have a Discussion With Your Family
Before everyone gets together, it’s crucial that you help your family make adjustments by talking about your hearing loss with them. Your family can then do the things that will make communicating easier like looking at you when they talk. It may seem like an uncomfortable discussion to have, but it makes the meal much more enjoyable for everybody when you can actively engage.
When You Sit at The Table, Pick a Spot Near The Center
In some cases, it’s tradition to sit at a particular place at the table, but the best spot to sit if you want to have an easier time hearing conversation isn’t at the head or near the end of the table, it’s in the middle. If you are in the middle of the table, you probably will not have to struggle as much to hear what people are saying. Be certain you speak up and tell your family if there is a spot at the table that’s best for you.
Request a Lower Music Volume
Having hearing loss makes it difficult to filter out background noise and focus on speech which makes it an especially challenging problem. Ask your family to turn the music off or at least decrease the volume. At restaurants, ask to be seated away from the kitchen and the speakers.
Technology Can Help
An FM system or a directional microphone are useful solutions if you don’t already have them. Both of these technologies can help you isolate background noise by turning away from it and boosting the voices you want to hear to make out a conversation.
Don’t Try to Bluff Your Way Through
The only way your family will know if you’re struggling through a meal is if you inform them. A family gathering is a time to celebrate, and your hearing loss should never prevent you from getting in on the fun. Your loved ones will be happy to help you with any adjustments you may need to make during your meal.