The holiday season is upon us! Next week is Thanksgiving, an excellent time to connect with loved ones and enjoy delicious food. However, those lively dinner discussions can get loud, and for those with hearing loss, it can be frustrating or overwhelming to follow the conversation. We’ve compiled some tips to help you enjoy Thanksgiving with your family.
The Seating Arrangement
Don’t discount the difference your seat placement can make. Select a chair in a quieter spot in the room, keeping a distance between yourself and the busy kitchen, speakers, the TV or any other element that might add extraneous background noise to your dining experience. Also consider lighting; a seat in a well-lit area of the room will aid with lip-reading and visual communication (more on that below).
If you have more pronounced hearing loss in one ear, keep your “good ear” in mind when picking a seat. Sitting on a corner of the table could angle your “bad ear” away from the table.
Background Noise
Background noise can be a major distraction, particularly for those with hearing loss. As discussed above, try to sit yourself in a place where background noise is mitigated. You can also ask the host to turn the music down if that proves to be a problem.
Communication Strategies
Getting together with loved ones is the most precious part of the holiday season. However, keeping up with conversations can be hard with hearing loss. Keep these communication strategies in mind as you chat at the table:
- Converse with the people sitting closest to you, instead of trying to speak and listen from across the room.
- Mind your visual communication cues. Don’t talk while you’re chewing. Turn to face the person you’re talking to so you can see and hear them better. Give them your full attention and make it clear to them that they have your attention. Use hand gestures and facial expressions to indicate if you misheard.
- Remind them that they don’t need to shout. Speaker clearer, not louder, will help you hear what they’re saying. Shouting tends to distort words and make it harder. Don’t be afraid to remind people of this and ask
How Hearing Aids Can Help
Almost 30 million American adults could benefit from hearing aids. The holidays are an excellent time to consider beginning your journey with hearing aids: they amplify speech, suppress background noise and prevent the mental exhaustion that comes with listening hard for long stretches of time.
If you’re ready to discuss how hearing aids can help you enjoy the holidays to the fullest, contact Kampsen Hearing. We’ll determine your hearing loss needs and create a personalized hearing treatment plan for you. Call today to make an appointment.