Sharing a holiday dinner with your loved ones is a warm and inviting time, but it can be a stressful experience for those with hearing loss. From the clamor of silverware to the laughter and crosstalk, keeping up with dinner conversation can feel nearly impossible. Luckily, with a few helpful tips, you can manage your hearing loss to enjoy the best holiday dinner yet.
Design A Table Plan
There are a couple of ways you can design a table plan to best accommodate your hearing loss, including:
- Think about your better ear. Hearing loss is often more pronounced in one ear than the other. Consider which ear you hear out of better and sit people you would most like to talk to on that side of you. If you’re unsure which ear you best hear out of, think about which way you tend to turn your head to hear.
- Sit next to a helper. Having a hearing helper can reduce a lot of communication stress. Ask a close friend or loved one to sit next to you to clear up miscommunications.
Take Breaks
Understanding dinner conversation with hearing loss can take a lot of energy. Taking breaks when you feel overwhelmed or tired can help you preserve energy. Try to set aside time for a few quiet breaks away from the hustle and bustle to help you preserve extra energy.
Wear Hearing Aids
Approximately 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from the use of hearing aids. Hearing aids are an essential tool in planning a stress-free holiday dinner. The small but technologically advanced devices can locate and amplify speech sounds while suppressing background noise to provide clear communication without expending your mental energy.
Talk to your hearing aid specialist about wearing devices with noise suppression software designed to minimize annoying background noise like dishes clanging, chairs moving about and more. Not only will noise suppression help you understand your loved ones during dinner, but it can make your grocery shopping adventures or trips to Scratch Bakery Café for holiday pies much easier and stress-free.
By designing a table plan, taking breaks and wearing hearing aids, you can have the best holiday dinner yet. For more information on managing your hearing loss, contact Hampton Roads ENT ~ Allergy today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.