Helping loved ones with hearing loss this Independence Day

Independence Day is here and that means it’s time for all those fun-packed parades, fancy fireworks and sizzling barbecues.  It’s also precious time to catch up with old friends and family you haven’t seen in a while, and all those jokes and sometimes hilarious arguments that happen when everyone gets together. It should be a day to look forward to but for loved ones with hearing loss, it can actually be a day to dread. The cacophony of sounds can leave them feeling isolated and adrift, unable to catch what anyone is saying. You can make a difference.

Here are a few tips from us at Selective Hearing on how to make Independence Day an enjoyable event for those who are hard of hearing.

Bye bye background music

Adding background music to an already busy room of chatter makes it that much harder for loved ones with hearing loss to understand what is being said around them. Turn it off and you’ll see that with all the conversation, hardly anyone will notice its absence.

Get cosy

Maybe dodge the huge parties and make this year a more intimate family gathering. A smaller seating arrangement with less people will make it much easier for everyone to hear each other.

Just ask

If you know a loved one is hard of hearing, ask them how you can help make their experience of the celebrations easier. They’ll know best and it will let them know that you are willing to make adjustments that they otherwise may feel awkward asking for.

Take a break from tidying up

Leave doing the dishes and washing those glasses until later. Clattering dishes in the kitchen can be distracting and hard for someone with hearing loss to tune out.

Game on

Watching the game can often draw in a crowd of hollering guests. So, if you can, arrange some seating in a quieter corner of the house where anyone not into the game can chat. Try to make sure that your loved one with hearing loss is seated so they can see everyone else’s faces. This makes it easier for them to hear what is being said and to pick up on non-verbal cues.

These small changes can make a big impact on anyone who is hard of hearing. So why not give it a try this Independence Day?