Turkey, touchdowns and thanks. The three Ts of Thanksgiving. But let’s not forget that other one: talking and lots of it. Catching up with old friends and family you haven’t seen in a while, the 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 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 Thanksgiving 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
Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family to get together, so get everyone closer together: literally. A more intimate seating arrangement will make it 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 Thanksgiving day 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 the dishes 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 Thanksgiving? Loved ones with hearing loss who are sat at your table are sure to be thankful.
Make sure you don’t miss out on all the wonderful sounds of Thanksgiving this year. Get your hearing in good shape with a hearing evaluation at Selective Hearing, Acadiana’s audiology specialists.
