Thanksgiving is fast approaching and, for many, that means trips to the grocery store, flurried cooking and lots of time with loved ones. Amidst all that holiday fun and chaos, those with hearing loss may find themselves in one or two tricky listening environments.
Tricky Listening Environments Around Thanksgiving
There are a few environments that may make listening difficult around Thanksgiving:
- Stores: chatting customers, employees, rattling carts, overhead music, etc.
- Parties: lively conversation, music, football, Thanksgiving Day Parade, etc.
- Kitchens: the clanking of pots and pans, timers, talking guests, etc.
While Thanksgiving can create challenging listening situations, there are ways that you can manage hearing loss for a better holiday.
Accommodating Hearing Loss on Thanksgiving
If you’re among the 15% of U.S. adults with hearing loss, try the following tips to manage the condition this Thanksgiving:
- Get your shopping done early. A grocery store on the day before Thanksgiving is almost guaranteed to be hectic. Shopping at least a week early, outside of peak hours, will offer a calmer experience.
- Curate your home environment. There are a few ways you can curate a more listening-friendly home environment: turn down the music and TV, sit people at smaller tables, avoid large centerpieces that block your sightline to people at your table and ensure the room is well-lit.
- Use alternative alarms. All the distracting sounds at a Thanksgiving gathering can make it easy to miss alarms—potentially leading to a burned casserole or dried-out turkey. Setting a vibrating alarm on your phone and keeping it in your pocket will help you stay on top of the cooking.
- Use your hearing aids. Your hearing aids will collect and amplify speech sounds to help you communicate effectively with the people in your life. Charge and clean your devices the night before Thanksgiving for the best results.
Thanksgiving shouldn’t be a stressful experience. By shopping early, tailoring your home environment to fit your listening needs, using alternative alarms and wearing your hearing aids, you can enjoy a pleasant holiday with lots of delicious food.
For more information about managing hearing loss or to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists for a hearing aid servicing, contact Benke Ear Nose & Throat Clinic today.
Sources
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2021, March 25). Quick statistics about hearing. National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders. Nidcd. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing