About 13% of the U.S. population aged 12 and over has hearing loss. When you have hearing loss, chaotic environments with lots of competing noise can make listening challenging or even overwhelming. Luckily, there are a few ways you can accommodate your hearing loss for a smoother, more enjoyable experience.
Wear Your Hearing Aids
Unsurprisingly, hearing aids are the number one tool to help you navigate Thanksgiving. Your devices will collect and amplify speech sounds to help you communicate with grocery store workers, friends and family. Make sure your devices are clean and charged before the big day.
Get Your Grocery Shopping Out of the Way
You’ve probably noticed that going to the grocery store close to Thanksgiving is an exercise in chaos. The constant noise of passing customers, squeaky shopping cart wheels, overhead music and cash registers opening and closing can be overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to communicate with someone. Going to the grocery store early in the morning or after dinner, ideally at least a week before Thanksgiving, will make for a calmer trip.
Make Your Home Listening-Friendly
Clanking dishes, the Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, holiday music, laughing guests and lots of children running around can make your home pretty listening-unfriendly. Turning the TV down, sitting where you can see as many people as possible and asking people to speak at a normal volume—to avoid distracting shouting—will make communication significantly easier.
Try Vibrating Alarms
The sound of a beeping alarm can easily get drowned out in a busy environment. If you’re cooking, a vibrating alarm is a great tool to help you grab your dishes from the oven before they burn.
Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to spend time with your friends and family while enjoying delicious sweet and savory treats. By using the above tips, you can enjoy all the holiday has to offer without any additional stress.
For more information about managing hearing loss, contact Advantage ENT & Audiology today.
Sources
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2021, March 25). Quick statistics about hearing. National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders. Nidcd. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing