How to Enjoy the Holidays With Hearing Loss
The holiday season is in full swing. It is a time to be enjoyed, and to connect and socialise with friends, colleagues, and family. Yet, for those of us with hearing loss, we may be feeling less joy and more frustration.
This time of year, you may be invited to more events than usual, which can pose some challenges if you have hearing loss. Social events such as work parties and family gatherings can be stressful to navigate. Get-togethers are often noisy, and it can be difficult for someone with hearing loss to hear conversations over background noise, meaning elements of conversation may be missed, which can lead to feelings of low confidence and isolation.
Feeling lonely and isolated when sitting around a dinner table with your friends and family chatting happily, while you struggle to hear a single person, even has a name: Dinner Table Syndrome. Though it’s comforting to know that there are others also struggling to communicate this time of year, having a few tricks up your sleeve can make a big difference in your holiday experience.
If you find the holidays frustrating due to your hearing loss, here are 6 tips to help you get the most out of interactions with loved ones and get more enjoyment out of this busy time of year.
Advocate for Yourself
Blue bauble with graphic of a boy talking to a girl, with speech bubbles.
Family and party environments often go hand in hand with noise. Perhaps the TV volume is turned up, or maybe there is loud music playing. One thing’s for sure, if there is loud background noise, people with hearing loss are going to find it difficult to hear conversation.
If you are finding the level of background noise is overpowering or if it is affecting your ability to follow group conversation, try explaining to others that you will hear better if the volume level is lowered. If the gathering is not in your home, try politely asking the host to lower the volume.
It is not always easy to talk about your hearing loss and needs with others, but advocating for yourself can help you get the most out of social experiences. Explain to family and friends how they can help to aid communication. They will probably want to help but may not know how to do so. Try to focus on a few simple points, such as the following:
Ask people to get your attention before speaking to you, either by saying your name or tapping you on the shoulder.
Request that people face you when speaking to you, making sure their lips are visible to help aid lipreading and understanding.
Ask that people try to take turns speaking and that they speak clearly.
Gold bauble with a graphic of a guy smiling, and sitting crossed-legged on a white beanbag.
2. Take Some Quiet Time
Following group conversations over background noise and extended periods of lip reading can be exhausting. If you find yourself experiencing listening fatigue, try taking some time out from the situation. Seek out a quiet area or room for respite or a quiet conversation with a friend. Alternatively, take a short walk outside. Even a few minutes away from noise can help you re-energise before rejoining the festivities.
Blue bauble with a graphic of two girls talking closely into each others ears.
3. Choose a Hearing Buddy
Consider asking a loved one who has a good grasp of your hearing capacity to sit next to you, to help fill in gaps in conversation. A hearing buddy can also alert you when someone addresses you or mentions something of particular interest.
4. Select Your Seat Wisely
Gold bauble with graphic of a family sitting around a dinner table sharing a meal.
Strategically choose where to sit, based on your optimal hearing conditions. As someone with single-sided deafness, sitting at the end of a rectangular table with my hearing ear facing the conversation gives me the best chance of accessing the discussion. Your optimal place may be different to mine, depending on your type of hearing loss and communication preferences. Maybe you prefer a round table, or a spot where you can view people's lips for lipreading. If you have an optimal seating position, make sure you sit there—grab the best seat! People are generally happy to swap seats if they understand the reason. If the event is a restaurant, it can be helpful to mention your needs at the time of booking and request a corner table or booth, where there is less background noise.
Blue bauble with a graphic of a person cupping their ear.
5. Use Visual Cues
Using simple visual cues, such as moving closer to the speaker or cupping your ear with your hand, can act as gentle reminders to others about your hearing loss.
6. Be Kind to Yourself
Gold bauble with a graphic of a person hugging their reflection in the mirror. A speech bubble reads, “You’re amazing.”
Try to make sure your expectations are reasonable. Even though you may not hear everything that people around you are saying, you can still take part in conversations when you feel comfortable. Remember that even those without hearing loss will struggle to hear everything in gatherings. Be kind to yourself. Make peace with the fact that you will not hear everything, and that is ok. Prioritise self-care and get plenty of rest to help recharge and manage listening fatigue.
Have Fun!
Above all, enjoy the celebrations and appreciate the time spent with loved ones. Holiday gatherings can be a challenge for people with hearing loss, but by employing a few simple measures, they can still be enjoyable experiences.
Happy holidays!
