Thanksgiving is a holiday rooted in communication. Whether it’s heartfelt catchups around the table, playful banter with kids or a movie marathon after dessert, much of the day revolves around listening and engaging. When you have hearing loss, these moments can present unique challenges:
- Struggling to follow conversations. Multiple conversations, clinking dishes, jolly music and sizzling pans can create a soundscape that’s difficult to navigate. Distinguishing speech from background noise can feel like an uphill battle.
- Feeling isolated. When it’s hard to hear, participating in discussions might feel exhausting or even impossible, leading to unintentional withdrawal from the celebration.
- Complications from alcohol. Adding alcohol to the mix can further hinder communication, as it can temporarily affect cognitive functions like memory and speech.
While these complications may make it seem like Thanksgiving will be a stressful day, hearing aids can help. Let’s take a look at four areas in which hearing aids can improve your holiday.
1. At the Grocery Store
Heading to Duckweed Urban Grocery Store for a few last-minute dinner items is a little more complicated around Thanksgiving. The increase in holiday shoppers can create a loud, hectic shopping environment. Luckily, hearing aids with background noise suppression technology and directional microphones can help you stay alert and aware of your surroundings, minimizing stress and helping you get your shopping done with greater ease.
2. In the Kitchen
Cooking Thanksgiving dinner is no small feat. You have to balance countless dishes and get the timing just right. When hearing loss dulls the sounds of timers and gets in the way of easy communication with your helpers, the situation can quickly turn stressful. Hearing aids amplify timers and speech to help you minimize this stress and prevent burnt dishes for a better experience.
3. At the Dinner Table
Dinner is the focus of any Thanksgiving celebration. As you pile your plate high with turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, candied yams and green beans, you’ll probably be surrounded by the overlapping conversations of happy family members. Your hearing aids will amplify the speech sounds you struggle to hear so you don’t miss a single question or story.
4. While Making Crafts With Kids
Hearing loss can make it challenging to understand high-pitched sounds. This is why tweeting birds and children’s voices are often the first sounds to go. When you can’t understand your children or grandchildren, entertaining them with holiday crafts, like handprint turkeys or pilgrim hats, may feel more difficult. Hearing aids ensure you catch every giggle and instruction, making these hands-on moments unforgettable.
If you’re ready to enjoy the benefits of hearing aids or need new programming in your current devices, contact Kampsen Hearing for an appointment with one of our specialists.