Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and you are more than likely planning an epic Thanksgiving holiday feast to enjoy with all your friends and family. If you have a family member or members that have hearing loss, you may be asking yourself how you can make this holiday even better for them. The answer is that there are several things that you can do to make this Thanksgiving great for those that have hearing loss.
Having Designated Spaces For Activities
If you are hosting an event where there will be a lot of young children, you will want to designate an area for that. If you have a football game that people will want to watch, you will want a room dedicated for that, and you should also have a quiet space where your guests can go to catch their breath for a minute. Having designated spaces will help your friends and family with hearing loss feel comfortable.
Reducing Volume Levels
One of the best things that you can do is to try to reduce the volume levels in the house. The kitchen can be quite loud due to the sound of conversations, clattering dishes, and the clanging of pans. People who suffer from hearing loss may not be able to hear well because of all the background noise. When working in the kitchen, you will want to keep this in mind and also remind other family members of this. When it comes to seating arrangements, make sure that you sit your family member with hearing loss as far away from the kitchen as possible.
Also, reduce the background noise during the meal. If you have music on, turn it off so everyone can hear each other well. Also, wait to clear the plates from the table until everyone has eaten in order to cut down on the noise.
Pay Attention To Sightlines
People that have hearing care issues will often rely on visual aids, so you will want to make sure that you have clear sightlines. For example, many people with hearing care issues will read people’s lips. Make sure that your table is round or oval shaped so that everyone can see each other well. You can also ask your guests who suffer from hearing loss if they would like to sit at the head of the table so that they can see everyone more clearly. You should also make sure that you have adequate lighting all throughout the house so that your family member with hearing loss can see people easily.
Call Us Today
If you have a family member that suffers from hearing loss and needs hearing care, call Atkins Hearing Center today. We can help with hearing aids and more. We can also give you more tips and tricks to help you through this busy holiday season.
