You arrive at your company’s annual holiday party and you’re immediately bombarded by noise. You can feel the beat of the music, the thrum of shouted conversations, and the clattering of glasses.
You’re not enjoying it at all.
In such a loud setting, you can’t hear a thing. The punch lines of jokes are getting lost, you can’t make out conversations and it’s all really disorienting. How can anybody be enjoying this thing? But as the evening continues, you see that you’re the only one having trouble.
This most likely sounds familiar for individuals who suffer from hearing loss. Unique stressors can be introduced at a holiday office party and for a person who is coping with hearing loss, that can make it a lonely, dark event. But don’t worry! You can get through the next holiday party without a problem with this little survival guide and perhaps you will even enjoy yourself.
Why holiday parties can be stressful
Holiday parties are usually a unique blend of fun and stress, (if you’re introverted this is particularly true) even if your hearing is healthy. For people with hearing loss or if you struggle to hear with loud background noise, holiday parties present some unique stressors.
First and foremost is the noise. To put it into perspective: Holiday parties are your chance to loosen your tie and cut loose. In an environment like this, individuals have the tendency to talk at louder volumes and often at the same time. Alcohol can absolutely play a part. But even dry office parties can be a little on the unruly side.
Some interference is created by this, particularly for people with hearing loss. Here are some reasons for this:
- There are so many people talking at the same time. One of the side effects of hearing loss is that it’s extremely difficult to pick out one voice from overlapping discussions.
- Lots of background noise, laughing, clanking dishes, music, and so on. Your brain has a hard time isolating voices from all of this information.
- When you have hearing loss, indoor parties like office parties can make it even more difficult to hear because sound tends to become amplified.
This means that hearing and following conversations will be difficult for individuals who have hearing loss. At first glimpse, that might sound like a small thing.
So… What is the big deal?
The professional and networking aspect of things is where the big deal is. Office holiday parties, even though they are supposed to be social gatherings, a lot of networking occurs and connections are made. At any rate, attendance is often encouraged, so here we are. This means a couple of things:
- You can network: Holiday parties are an ideal opportunity to network with employees from other departments or even meet up with co-workers in your own section. People will still talk shop, even though it’s a social event it’s also a networking occasion. You can use this event to forge new connections. But it’s harder when you’re dealing with hearing loss and can’t make out what’s happening because of the overpowering noise.
- You can feel isolated: Who wants to be that person who’s always asking people to repeat themselves? This is one reason why hearing loss and isolation often go hand-in-hand. Even if you ask your family and friends to occasionally repeat themselves, it’s not the same with colleagues. Maybe you’re concerned they will think you’re incompetent. And that can harm your work reputation. So, instead, you may simply avoid interactions. You’ll feel left out and left behind, and that’s not a fun feeling for anybody!
This can be even more challenging because you may not even realize you have hearing loss. The inability to hear well in noisy environments (like restaurants or office parties) is often one of those first indications of hearing loss.
As a result, you may be surprised that you’re having difficulty following the conversation. And you might be even more alarmed that you’re the only one.
Hearing loss causes
So how does this take place? How does hearing loss happen? Age and, or noise damage are the most prevalent causes. Basically, as you age, your ears most likely experience repeated damage due to loud noises. The fragile hairs in your ear that sense vibrations (called stereocilia) become compromised.
That damage is permanent. And the more stereocilia that die, the worse your hearing becomes. In most instances, hearing loss like this is irreversible (so you’re better off safeguarding your hearing before the injury occurs).
Knowing all that, there are ways you can make your holiday office party a bit less uncomfortable!
How to enjoy this year’s office party
Your office party offers some significant opportunities (and fun!), so you’d rather not skip out. So, when you’re in a loud environment, how can you hear better? You can make that office party better and more enjoyable using these tips:
- Refrain from drinking too many cocktails: If your thoughts start to get a little blurry, it’s a good bet you’ll be unable to communicate successfully. The whole thing will be much easier if you take it easy on the drinking.
- Take listening breaks: Every hour, give yourself a 15 minute quiet break. This will help stop you from becoming totally exhausted after having to listen really hard.
- Have conversations in quieter spots: Maybe try sitting on a couch or around a corner. When the ambient noise gets too loud, sitting behind stationary objects can provide little pockets that are slightly less loud.
- Look at faces: Try to spend time with individuals who have really expressive faces and hand gestures when they talk. You will be capable of filling in information gaps using these contextual clues.
- Try to read lips: You will get better at this the more you practice. And it won’t ever be perfect. But some gaps can be filled in with this technique.
Of course, the best possible option is also one of the simplest.: get fitted for a set of hearing aids. These hearing aids can be tailored to your hearing needs, and they can also be subtle. Even if your hearing aids aren’t small, you’d rather people notice your hearing aids than your hearing loss.
Get your hearing tested before the party
That’s why, if you can, it’s a good idea to have your hearing tested before the office holiday party. Due to COVID, this may be your first holiday party in several years, and you don’t want to be surprised by your inability to hear!
