The holidays can be a particularly challenging time for individuals with hearing loss. The combination of hectic stores, holiday parties and family get-togethers can make it difficult to keep up, leading to feelings of isolation.
Nobody should feel alone on the holidays. If you’re loved one has hearing loss, take a look at our list of tips to help them feel included at every gathering.
1. Be Mindful of Overlapping Speech
When a group of people gets together, it’s common for multiple speakers to talk over each other or interrupt one another, usually unintentionally. That constant stream of competing speech can make people with hearing loss feel like they can’t contribute. They may even feel inclined to skip future events.
You can help your loved one feel more included by gently encouraging everyone to take turns speaking. If you notice your loved one, or anyone else, trying to say something but getting talked over, you might step in with a kind prompt like, “Hey, what were you saying?” Asking the group to quiet down a bit so one person can finish what they were saying helps create a more respectful listening environment without putting anyone on the spot.
2. Rephrase or Add Context
It’s a common impulse to repeat yourself or raise your voice when you can’t hear someone. Because people with hearing loss struggle with specific sounds, repetition or higher volume may not bring clarity. Instead, rephrase yourself and add some context clues.
3. Face Each Other When Speaking
With the TV, the cooking and the ever-present phone in your pocket, it’s easy to get distracted when talking to others. Looking away from the person you’re speaking to robs them of essential visual cues. Make it a point to look at your loved one when you’re having a conversation to minimize miscommunications.
4. Move Locations
Busy Friday-night holiday parties at Amarillo hot spots are fun, but they create a tricky listening environment for people with hearing loss. Offer to move to a quieter space or a heated outdoor patio if your loved one lets you know they’re having trouble.
5. Ask What They Need
More than 10% of the U.S. population has hearing loss. Although the condition is common, each person’s experience is unique. The above tips are good communication strategies, but they’re not hard and fast rules. Ask your loved one what they need from you and encourage them to speak up for themselves. If they ask for specific accommodations, provide them to the best of your abilities and don’t assume that there’s something they want that they haven’t requested. They know their needs best.
If you’re interested in learning more about hearing loss, contact Amarillo Hearing Clinic today.
