OPTIMAL HEARING IN NOISE

simon-karemann-p85-MG66GRY-unsplash

Throughout the holiday seasons, many hearing-impaired people find it difficult to communicate whether at a party or around the table.   There are several strategies when trying to communicate in high noise environments.

  1. Plan ahead by picking a quieter restaurant.  Avoid places like sports bars, where there may be multiple televisions.  If they don’t use closed captions on the tv, the noise levels will probably be higher. 
  2. Make reservations ahead of time and ask for accommodations.
  3. Choose to dine with a smaller number of dining partners.
  4. If possible, pick a table in the least noisy part of the restaurant.  Stay away from the kitchen, bar, and wait for service stations.
  5. As for seating in a well-lit area.
  6. Sit with your back to the window, so that the lighting is on the speaker’s face, not in your eyes.
  7. Ask the staff if it’s possible to turn down the background music.
  8. Tell the waiter/waitress, as well as your dining companions, that you have a hearing loss and that it will help if they slow down a bit, speak a bit louder, and face you directly.
  9. Use directional microphones and/or an FM system.  If your hearing aids are set to directional, be sure to sit with your back to the main noise source.
  10. Don’t bluff!  If you don’t understand, have people repeat.
  11. And lastly, relax, breathe and enjoy the food and company, even if you don’t catch every word.

Photo by Dex Ezekiel on Unsplash

Related Articles

You might be interested in...

Woman with hearing loss or hard of hearing

HEARING LOSS LINKED TO ACCELERATED BRAIN TISSUE LOSS

Although the brain becomes smaller with age, the shrinkage seems to be fast-tracked in older adults with hearing loss, according to the results of a […]

Read More →
Woman Suffering From Headache Dizziness

HEARING LOSS AND BRAIN SIZE

Can brain shrinkage be associated with hearing loss?  A new study finds brain shrinkage is the latest in a list of health problems associated with […]

Read More →
Headphones and Otoscope

WHAT IS AN AUDIOLOGIST?

Audiologists are the primary health-care professionals who evaluate, diagnose, treat and manage hearing loss and balance disorders in adults and children. AUDIOLOGISTS: Prescribe, fit and […]

Read More →
Call Us Now