The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders report, “One in eight people in the United States (13 percent, or 30 million) aged 12 years or older has hearing loss in both ears.” If you have hearing loss and you wear hearing aids, you may be wondering how you can make the most out of your dates this year. We review tips on how to do this below.
Make a Dinner Reservation
Perhaps the most popular date idea is to go out to dinner. If you wish to do this and you wear hearing aids, we recommend being intentional about when and where you make your dinner reservation. For example, you can go out for breakfast or lunch instead of dinner. If you do want to go out to dinner, make a reservation for before 5 p.m. or after 7 p.m., outside the rush hours. Also, consider where you’re going. Choose a restaurant with soft surfaces and request a table in the corner away from the kitchen and waiter’s station. Alternatively, you can always make a quiet meal at home.
Plan a Trip
Rather than planning just an evening out, you can also make a weekend of it. For example, you can go to a cabin out in nature or a quiet resort near the city. Do your research to make sure there are low-noise activities you can enjoy, like an afternoon at the spa or a walk on a trail. You can also check in with where you’re staying to see if they offer any accessibility features for people with hearing loss.
Bring Your Hearing Aids & Supplies
No matter what you choose to do, make sure you wear your hearing aids and bring along any other necessary supplies. This may include extra batteries, a battery caddy to carry them in, a cleaning kit, a hearing aid lanyard, etc.
See Your Audiologist
If it’s been more than a year since your last visit with an audiologist, we recommend scheduling an appointment before your next date to ensure you’re hearing your best. Your audiologist can conduct a hearing test to monitor for changes to your hearing and adjust the programming of your hearing aids if necessary. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call Amarillo Hearing Clinic today.
