This time of year is full of festive and fun activities and memories. It’s a time for gatherings and spending moments with loved ones catching up with lively conversations, music, and food. However, for those with hearing loss, this can be a time of the season that is more difficult to connect. This year make the most of your holidays with these tips and tricks.
Have the right equipment
Having the right tool for the job can make a big difference in the outcome.
Make sure that you have the right accessories for the occasion. Many manufacturers make devices to assist the functionality of your hearing aids in increasing performance based on the situation.
Telecoil & Hearing loop Systems
Concerts, plays, church services, and theaters:
A telecoil is a small wire wrapped around a rod inside your hearing ads, acting as an antenna picking up magnetic signals and streaming them as sound into your hearing aids. With this “T-setting,” your hearing aids can stream the sound of a speaker’s voice, the sounds of the movie, or music from the concert right into your ears – without any background noises.
Many of these “hearing loops” or “audio induction loops” can be found in:
- Churches
- Concert halls
- Schools
- Airports
- Movie theaters
- Museums
Bluetooth Technology
Video messaging, phone calls, music:
Bluetooth is a wireless communication platform that allows for data transfer between multiple devices through radio waves. With Bluetooth, you can connect to a device such as a cell phone, tablet, or computer and have the sound stream directly through your hearing aids into your ears. This feature comes in handy while staying connected with those you love during the holidays.
Whether it’s video messaging or a simple phone call, Bluetooth allows hearing your best while connecting with the ones you love.
There are other assisted listening devices(ALD) to make sure you can hear your best at any holiday event. For more information on which ALD would be best for your specific situation, reach out to your hearing care professional, and ask them.
Make the right moves
As they say, “the more, the merrier.” Holiday parties are one of the best parts of the season. Whether you’re attending an “ugly sweater party,” formal dinner function, or just hanging out with the family, these communication Ideas will allow you to “make the right moves” at your next party.
Conversations & Speech Recognition
Turn it down: Background noise can make hearing very difficult. And although we all love holiday music, often, we want to create a festive ambiance rather than a raging rock concert. Suppose you feel the music is making it difficult to understand the people you are conversing with. In that case, it’s a good idea to ask the host if they can adjust the volume to a more ambient level.
If you are the host, positioning the speakers to face away from guests allows the music to be still audible but less directly and prominently!
Keep your circle small: Positioning yourself around fewer people can help you focus more on the conversation and what’s being said. In large groups with cross conversations, it can be hard to distinguish what is going on. By separating yourself into a smaller group, you can track the discussion better.
There are many different ways to hear your best during the holidays and lots of events to prepare for. Finding what works best for you takes time and practice. So make sure you give the best gift of all this season, the gift connection.
Whether your festive focus is full of religious services or a full social calendar, Salem Audiology Clinic wants to help keep your spirits merry and bright by recommending a clean and check of your current devices. Contact us today and schedule your cleaning!
Conversations & Speech Recognition
Turn it down: Background noise can make hearing very difficult. And although we all love holiday music, often, we want to create a festive ambiance rather than a raging rock concert. Suppose you feel the music is making it difficult to understand the people you are conversing with. In that case, it’s a good idea to ask the host if they can adjust the volume to a more ambient level.
If you are the host, positioning the speakers to face away from guests allows the music to be still audible but less directly and prominently!
Keep your circle small: Positioning yourself around fewer people can help you focus more on the conversation and what’s being said. In large groups with cross conversations, it can be hard to distinguish what is going on. By separating yourself into a smaller group, you can track the discussion better.
There are many different ways to hear your best during the holidays and lots of events to prepare for. Finding what works best for you takes time and practice. So make sure you give the best gift of all this season, the gift of connection.
Whether your festive focus is full of religious services or a full social calendar, Salem Audiology Clinic wants to help keep your spirits merry and bright by recommending a clean and check of your current devices. Contact us today and schedule your cleaning!