‘Tis the Season

Ahhh, yes….the holidays. And we’re hard of hearing. The mere image of this may conjure up memories of missed jokes, the inability to follow multiple, simultaneous conversations, and the fatigue after that comes having to listen so intently.

But here’s the thing. It does not have to be terrible. It really doesn’t. Thinking and planning a bit beforehand can ease some of the stress and discomfort. It only requires two things:

1) Acknowledging the challenges and prioritizing how, when and where you want to be involved. Maybe you don’t go to every cocktail party, but you choose the one or two that you think will give you the best opportunities to both talk and listen to your friends and/or family. A smaller, more intimate environment may work better for you than a very large gathering. Or maybe the larger gathering gives you a better chance to “cruise” from one brief conversation to the next, avoiding deep, heavy conversations in an environment that is not conducive to same. I, personally, love the larger gatherings because I can move around, having multiple conversations with many different people. It’s the “working the tables” concept applied to a party. If you are attending a more intimate family/friend dinner party, different rules apply. In this case, where you sit can make a huge difference, AND, this is a great opportunity to use your extra hearing assist tools…such as mini-mics, or Roger devices, or even “speech-to-text “or “live caption” options on your phone. If you are unfamiliar with these tools or apps, hustle on down to Hearing Associates and ask or their advice and help. These tools and apps can help us get the maximum value from our hearing devices, allowing you to hear better in more places.

2) Acknowledging the challenges AND asking for help and support from those around you. This is the time to remind your family and friends that you have hearing loss, and even though you have the best hearing aids you can afford, hearing aids alone (unlike glasses which get you to 20/20 vision) do not get you back to perfect hearing. They are absolutely necessary but not totally sufficient in all situations. Holiday gatherings are not your day-to-day normal situations and therefore, may require extra support. You need their understanding and help. Remind them that you do not hear around walls or into another room. Encourage them to look at you when they speak (shouting is not necessary). Ask them for grace when you miss parts of boisterous conversations. And give yourself a bit of grace as well.

Staying engaged, going to the parties, going to the family dinners – EVEN WITH SIGNIFICANT HEARING LOSS – is good for your mental health and good for your brain. The combination of acknowledging your hearing loss, being smart while choosing your activities, and asking for support from friends and family, all will allow you to stay engaged, bringing you more opportunities for warmth and joy during this holiday season. Happy Holidays !!!