Christmas is approaching, and it’s generally a season spent with family, food, and fun. Whether you plan to celebrate in the comfort of your own home or you’ve been invited out, it’s a great time of the year to celebrate with those you enjoy.
However, regardless of how formal or informal the Holiday gathering may be, wearing your hearing aids is always the right choice for the occasion. Hearing aids make it more comfortable for you to partake in social interactions. You can enjoy conversations with a group with less difficulty.
We want to give you three of our preferred tips to get the most out of your Holiday season interactions.
1: Placement matters
People who experience hearing loss often rely on visual cues (such as watching people’s faces as they talk) to help them discern speech, identify who is speaking, and in some cases–read lips. When choosing your seat, make sure that you select a spot that allows you to see people’s faces.
Additionally, even with hearing aids, it can sometimes be challenging to have a conversation with someone at a distance, sitting on the other end of the table. That’s why it’s essential to position yourself or instead ask those you would like to converse with, sit close to you, making it easier to hold a conversation.
Lastly, try to place yourself, so that background noise is to your back, making it significantly easier to hear friends and family speak without competing with additional noise. It may also be a good idea to turn the background music or sound down or ask the host to do so during dinner.
2: It’s a team effort
Don’t be afraid to remind your family and friends of your hearing loss. Ask if they can speak louder and remember to face you directly when talking to you. Finding a “Tablemate,” or someone that understands your hearing loss and can sit nearby to help, makes a big difference in being able to enjoy the conversation even more.
A few general communication tips to keep in mind may also include:
- Always face the person to whom you are speaking.
- Speak slowly and clearly, do not shout.
- Avoid guessing or pretending; if you are struggling to hear, ask the person to repeat themselves.
3: Take breaks as needed
Following the conversation in a noisy setting can be challenging for many, especially for hearing loss people. Make sure to take breaks throughout the duration, and give your ears a bit of quiet time. Finding a less crowded room or area to have a conversation in is the perfect time to step away from the crowd and have a one-on-one conversation with someone.
Having hearing loss doesn’t mean you have to miss out on holiday events. Using these tips and will allow you to engage in all of the holiday fun fully.
We suggest having your hearing aids cleaned & checked before the start of the holidays to make sure everything is in top working order. The team at Salem Audiology Clinic would be happy to check them for you. Call us today at 971-701-6322, and we can get you scheduled.
Happy holidays, from Salem Audiology Clinic