With the holiday season upon us, now is the time to visit friends and family and have a lot of conversation. If you have hearing loss and use hearing aids, a noisy environment can make it hard to communicate. Combine that with people who speak fast or are quiet and you can find yourself struggling. There are some things you can do to ensure your conversations are better this holiday season. Here are some great tips for people who have hearing aids and hearing loss.
Lighting
You will want to make sure that any room you are in has enough lighting. When you have hearing loss, you will pick up on lip reading, body language, and facial expressions. If the lighting is poor, you may not be able to pick up on these cues. Going outdoors can improve your ability to see what you need to see. Consider hosting holiday parties outside if the weather is warm enough.
Cut Out Background Noise
Your hearing aids should be able to filter out background noise. You will still want to go somewhere where the background noise is not as noticeable. Stay out of small rooms with no carpeting as they can distort voices.
Visual Access
You will want to make sure that you can see everyone’s faces when talking to them. Choose a location like a round table or some other central spot. This way, you can see everyone’s face to have better communication.
Clean Your Hearing Aids
To ensure that your hearing aids are functioning, you will want to check to make sure that they are clean. If they are not, clean them to ensure that you can hear the conversation.
Batteries
You will want to make sure to charge the batteries on your hearing aids and that you bring a spare in case. You cannot communicate well if your hearing aid battery goes out.
Visiting Your Hearing Care Specialist
Before you go out for the holidays, you may want to stop in and visit your hearing care specialist. This is especially true if you have not been in a while. They can check your hearing aids to ensure that they are functioning well. They can tell you about advancements that might interest you.
Know Your Limit
If you suffer from hearing loss, you may get overwhelmed by a crowd of people. Know what you can stand and if you have trouble, go off to a quiet space or leave altogether. You do not want to get yourself stressed out, as this can make your situation worse.
Ask for Help
If you have trouble understanding a family member or friend, do not be afraid to ask them to speak slower or louder. You can even ask another friend or family member to help you understand them better.
Call Us Today
Before you go out for your holiday gatherings, call us at Atkins Hearing Center. Our hearing care specialists will take a look at your ears and hearing aids. We make sure that you and your hearing aids are in good functioning order. They can also give you tips on how to have an easier time at communication during this holiday season.
