It’s that time of year again—the holiday season. For many it’s a time of celebration, of reflecting with gratitude on the year that is ending, and for setting goals for the following year. For people with hearing loss, though, the holiday season can be a mixed blessing. We are excited to spend time with family and friends, but large celebrations are not always hearing-loss-friendly.
Still, there are ways to make the most of the holiday season, including our communication tool HEAR, which can help you to improve any difficult listening situation.
Your Hearing Loss Holiday Survival Guide
Many of these tips will work for seated dinners as well as cocktail parties. Please share your ideas in the comments.
Plan ahead
Like with all challenging listening situations, it is important to plan ahead.
- Contact the host a few weeks before the event to make any special requests like a particular seat at the table or setting up a zone for quiet conversation.
- Pack your technology tools and extra batteries. This may include loading speech-to-text apps onto your phone or bringing a remote microphone or other device.
- Consider hosting yourself so you have more control over the surroundings.
Self-identify and advocate for your needs
At the event self-identify and advocate for your communication needs.
- Find the optimal listening location for you. This may be in a central part of the table for a seated event or a relatively quiet section of the space at a cocktail party.
- Let people know about your hearing loss and provide specifics suggestions about how they can best communicate with you. The could include communication best practices like getting your attention first or speaking one at a time.
- Use visual cues like a hand behind the ear to indicate you are having trouble hearing. The speaker can adjust their volume and you won’t need to interrupt the flow of the conversation.
- It is easy to nod and pretend that you hear what others are saying, but it can be dangerous. Don’t fake it. Instead, ask for what you need to be part of the conversation.
Embrace all types of technology
Use assistive listening devices to assist in situations where your traditional devices are not enough.
- Try out a speech-to-text app to help you read what others say or utilize a remote microphone to bring the conversation directly into your ears.
- If the evening includes speeches, ask the host to provide a microphone or ask the speaker to wear your remote microphone.
Practice self-care
The holiday season is exciting but also stressful.
- Set aside time for yourself. Enjoy reading a book or sitting quietly to meditate. Self-care will pay dividends in your ability to concentrate and enjoy conversation.
- Listening fatigue is real. Take breaks during any event as needed to recharge your listening batteries and to give your eyes a rest. Mindful breathing can also help you reset and restore.
- Have reasonable expectations. You likely won’t hear everything, but that is ok. Enjoy talking to the people seated near you or invite a small group to a quieter part of the room to talk.
- Focus on gratitude. It can be hard to stay positive when you feel left out of the fun, but focusing on what you are grateful for instead of what you are missing can be helpful. Enjoy the warmth of the family and friends around you, even if you don’t catch every word.
For more Hearing Hacks, read Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss.
Readers, what tips and tricks do you use to enjoy the holiday season with hearing loss?
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You often write about hearing exhaustion. I experience this in family settings but I feel that no one understands or believes how tiring it is, trying to hear in large groups. You’re a port in the storm for me sometimes, as I’ve been severely HOH for over 20 years but have yet to know anyone else like me. Thank you!
It is so hard for others to understand, but it is real. You are not alone. Thank you for your comment.
Hi Brian! I feel your pain. It does seem like many folks are unable to comprehend hearing exhaustion. Perhaps it is due to the fact that they hear without having to think about it. I find asking those who don’t get hearing exhaustion to imagine they have to think to breath. That every breath taken requires a deliberate conscious effort. That is what hearing is like for me. This explanation provides them something they can relate to. However the best treatment for my hearing fatigue is good self care; to include resting before the event, taking hearing breaks while at an event, and leaving events when I’m tired. Some times this means my husband and I drive separately. Take good care.
Thank you for sharing what works for you.
Hello, my problems seem to be with my spouse and adult children and one grandchild. One son dpes make believe sign language and the grandchild, after Y asked him to repeat he shouts in an experated tone, His grandmother does the same thing. I have spoken to both on this but it continues. The grandson lives with us and has Some problems also. I get doubled annoyed, How to deal with this?
It is rough when family is not supportive. A few ideas. Take them to an audiologist appointment with you so they can start to better understand the challenges you are facing. You could also recommend they read Hear & Beyond to get a better understanding as well. Lastly the documentary film We Hear You has also helped family members to better understand the ways they can help too. Best of luck to you. You are not alone.