The holidays are often described as a warm and magical time full of shared moments with friends and family, good food and more. However, this time of year can present a unique challenge for those with hearing loss. With hectic shopping trips, loud family dinners and work parties, the holiday season is full of communication challenges.
Hearing aids are one excellent option to improve your holidays with hearing loss. Let’s take a look at a few ways you can use your hearing aids combined with effective communication strategies to have the best holiday season yet.
How To Use Your Hearing Aids During the Holidays
Approximately 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from the use of hearing aids. A couple of tips to make sure you’re getting the full use out of your hearing aids include but are not limited to:
- Check for adjustments. Hearing loss is not a static condition. It progresses and changes over time. Because your hearing loss changes, your hearing aids may require adjustments from time to time. If you notice your hearing aids are not working as effectively as they used to, make an appointment with your audiologist to check for any necessary adjustments or updates.
- Learn about suppression features. Many hearing aids come equipped with noise suppression features. While it may feel counterintuitive to use your devices to block out sound, suppression features can improve communication by reducing irrelevant or distracting noise. Talk with your audiologist to learn more about which suppression features your device is equipped with.
- Don’t forget the batteries. A dead battery is no friend to a fun holiday night with your family. Pack extra batteries when traveling to ensure you can continue using your hearing aids for the whole season. If your devices have rechargeable batteries, make sure to pack your charger and charge your devices regularly.
Communication Strategies
There are a couple of strategies that, when paired with hearing aids, help provide the easiest communication possible, including but not limited to:
- Enunciation. A common misconception about hearing loss is that raising your volume will improve understanding. In actuality, asking others to enunciate rather than raise their voice may result in better communication.
- Rephrasing. If you do not understand a phrase or word, ask it to be rephrased rather than repeated. Specific consonants or sounds of a very high or low frequency are often tricky for those with hearing loss to understand. Rephrasing offers different sounds and increases the likelihood that you will understand the meaning of the conversation.
- Bring a buddy. Shopping over the holidays can be hectic. One trip to the Valley Gills Mall can leave you stressed and overwhelmed. Bringing a buddy to help with communication and lend a calming presence can significantly improve your experience.
To learn more about managing your hearing loss this holiday season, contact Carolina Ear Nose & Throat – Sinus and Allergy Center today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.