So, so many family get-togethers.
During the holidays, it probably seems like you’re meeting (or re-meeting) a new long-lost relative every other weekend. That’s the charm (and, some would say, the curse) of the holiday season. Normally, this sort of yearly catching up is something that’s easy to look forward to. You get to learn what everyone’s been doing all year.
But those family gatherings may feel less welcoming when you’re dealing with hearing loss. Why is that? How will your hearing loss impact you when you’re at family gatherings?
Hearing loss can impede your ability to communicate, and with others’ ability to communicate with you. The end result can be a disheartening feeling of alienation, and it’s a particularly distressing sensation when it happens around the holidays. Your holiday season can be more fulfilling and pleasant by using a few go-to tips developed by hearing specialists.
Tips to help you enjoy the holiday season
Around the holidays, there’s so much to see, like decorations, gifts, food and so much more. But there are not only things to see, but also things to hear: how Uncle Bob lost his third finger (what?!), how Julie is doing in school, how Nancy got promoted, it keeps going.
During holiday get-togethers, use these tips to get through and make more unforgettable moments.
Avoid phone calls – instead, use video calls.
Zoom calls can be an excellent way to stay in touch with family and friends. If you’re dealing with hearing loss, this is particularly true. Try utilizing video calls instead of phone calls if you have hearing loss and want to reach out to loved ones throughout the holidays.
Phones represent an interesting conundrum when it comes to hearing loss and communication difficulties. It can be very difficult to hear the garbled sounding voice on the other end, and that can definitely be aggravating. You won’t have clearer audio quality from a video call, but you will at least have visual cues to help determine what’s being said. From body language to facial expressions, video calls supply added context, and that can help the conversation flow better.
Be honest with people
It isn’t uncommon for people to suffer from hearing loss. It’s essential to let people know if you need help. It doesn’t hurt to ask for:
- Conversations to happen in quieter areas of the get-together (more on this in a bit).
- People to repeat things, but requesting that they rephrase also.
- People to slow down a little bit when speaking with you.
When people know that you’re dealing with hearing loss, they’re less likely to become irritated if you need something repeated more than once. Communication will have a better flow as a result.
Find some quiet areas for talking
You will always want to steer clear of certain subjects of conversation during the holidays. So, you’re strategic, you don’t just mention sensitive subjects about people, you wait for those individuals to mention it. In a similar way, you should try to carefully select areas that are quieter for talking.
deal with it like this:
- Try to sit with your back to a wall. That way, at least you won’t have people talking behind you.
- Try to find well lit spots for this same reason. If there isn’t sufficient light, you won’t be capable of picking up on context clues or read lips.
- Try to find spots that have less motion and fewer people walking by and distracting you. This’ll make it easier to concentrate on the lips of the people speaking with you (and help you read lips as a result).
- There will be quieter spots in the home where you have conversations. That might mean moving away from overlapping conversations or getting a little further away from that raucous sporting event on the TV.
Okay, okay, but what if your niece begins talking to you in the noisy kitchen, where you’re filling your mug with holiday cocoa? In cases like this, there are a couple of things you can do:
- You can politely ask the host, if there is music playing, to turn it down so you can hear what your niece is saying.
- Suggest that you and your niece go someplace quieter to chat.
- Quietly lead your niece to a spot that has less happening. Be certain to explain that’s what you’re doing.
Speak to the flight crew
So, you’re thinking: what are the impacts of hearing loss at family gatherings that aren’t as obvious? Like the ones that catch you by surprise.
Many people go on planes during the holidays, it’s especially important for families that are pretty spread out. It’s crucial that you can understand all of the guidelines coming from the flight crew when you fly. Which is why it’s extra important to tell the flight crew that you have difficulty hearing or experience hearing loss. This way, if needed, the flight crew can take extra care to give you extra visual guidelines. It’s essential that you don’t miss anything when flying!
Take breaks
It can be a lot of work trying to communicate with hearing loss. You will frequently find yourself exhausted more frequently than before. So taking frequent breaks is important. This will give your ears, and, maybe more importantly, your brain, some time to catch a breath.
Consider getting hearing aids
How are relationships affected by hearing loss? Hearing loss has a significant impact on relationships.
Every conversation with your family through the holidays will be benefited by hearing aids and that’s one of the biggest benefits. And, the best part, you won’t have to keep asking people to repeat themselves.
Hearing aids will let you reconnect with your family, in other words.
It could take a little time to get used to your new hearing aids. So don’t wait until just before the holidays to get them. Naturally, everyone’s experience will be different. So speak with us about the timing.
You don’t have to get through the holidays by yourself
It can seem as if you’re by yourself sometimes, and that nobody understands what you’re dealing with when you have hearing loss. It’s as if hearing loss is affecting your personality in this way. But you’re not alone. You can navigate many of the difficulties with our help.
Holidays can be tough enough even under normal circumstances and you don’t need hearing loss to make it even more difficult. At this time of year, you can look forward to seeing, and hearing your friends and family. All you need is the correct strategy.
