Enjoying the Holidays with Hearing Loss

The holidays pose unique challenges to those with hearing loss. Not only are family gatherings difficult to navigate with so many people speaking at once, but the level of background noise can compete with voices in a room. If your holidays include any parties or large-group dinners, then the difficulty hearing in a crowded space can be overwhelming at times. 

This year will pose some unique challenges to those with hearing loss, particularly when our family members are wearing masks. We rely on our sense of sight to add information to the communication process, including not only facial expressions but also subconsciously watching mouths move in the shape of words, so the inability to see faces can make conversation even more difficult for those who have hearing loss. 

The following are a few of the tips that can help you or your loved one with hearing loss make the most of a challenging year for family gatherings this holiday season.

Accommodation Strategies

If you have a loved one with hearing loss, take the opportunity this season to make conversations as easy as possible. If you are speaking with a person who has hearing loss, try to sit as close as possible. Indeed, social distancing regulations mean that you might not be able to sit side-by-side. Nonetheless, sitting nearby and looking directly toward this family member will make it much easier to hear. If you can avoid it, do not call out from another room in the house. 

When you are having a holiday gathering it is particularly helpful to reduce background noise as much as possible. Although it can be pleasant to have holiday music playing, that additional sound can compete with voices in the ears of your family member with hearing loss. 

You can even try to position yourself at the table nearby your loved one to engage in some subtle translation and repetition, as necessary. Without diminishing or insulting your loved one, you can assist in the communication process, particularly for children or others who are not sensitive to these needs.

Assistive Technology

One new technology developed by Phonak can provide additional assistance this holiday season. Phonak’s Roger Select product greatly improves speech understanding in noisy environments. Background voices and noise tend to be the culprits in holiday gatherings and events, so this technology isolates the sounds of speakers directly facing the wearer, making it possible to better communicate and enjoy family events. 

For more information, see the Roger Select videos in Section 6 of the “Resources” page and further product and pricing details on our “Shop” page. This technology has already helped many people reconnect with their families this season, so you might want to point your loved one with hearing loss in the direction of Roger Select technology.

Gifts for Your Loved Ones with Hearing Loss

If you are looking for a gift for your loved one with hearing loss this season, Silver Audition has some suggestions for products under 200 francs on the “Store”. Some of the options include our TV Connector that makes it possible to stream television audio directly to your hearing aids and the D-Dry+ Box that is useful for those chance encounters getting stuck in the rain or snow while wearing hearing aids. 

Not only do we have gift recommendations for your loved ones with hearing loss, but all the members of the family can benefit from our Phonak line of hearing protection. The time is now to encourage your loved ones to protect their hearing, a gift that will bring its rewards for years into the future.

With these tips in mind, you can make the holiday enjoyable for all members of the family, even with the unique challenges facing us this year. As we look ahead to unrestrained family gatherings in the future, hearing loss treatment will make it possible to connect with the family in a way that is free from anxiety and the fear of misunderstanding. 

Although hearing loss continues to pose challenges, assistance can form a bridge between families during the holidays. Don’t delay contacting Silver Audition to schedule a hearing exam for you or your loved one, the first step on the road to easier family communication during the holidays.