Ready or not, here they come! The holidays, with all their festivities, are just around the corner. Whether you’re hosting a family event or attending one, planning for the season can help make things much less stressful. Take hearing loss, for example. According to our survey of more than 200 individuals, half of the family gatherings this year will include someone with hearing loss and 30 percent will include someone wearing hearing aids.
Our gift to you? Suggestions for making your holiday meal hearing-friendly for all members of the family.
hearing loss to the table this holiday?
Set the stage
If you’re hosting the gathering, take a few moments to consider who is coming. Will there be a lot of young children? Consider designating a playroom where they can play with their toys together.
You may also want to stage an area for football fans to watch the big game as well as a quieter area where guests can go if they want to have a conversation. This gives those who have trouble hearing a comfortable place to have one-on-one conversations.
Reduce the noise level
No matter how much preparation you do ahead of time, the kitchen is always a busy, noisy place. According to our survey, turkey and pie are the most sought-after items for the main course and dessert, with 61 percent preferring turkey and 58 percent preferring pie. When you add in all the side dishes and beverages, it makes for a lot of banging and clattering. That’s something to consider when assigning seating arrangements. Which seat at the table is farthest from the kitchen? The person wearing the hearing aids may want to sit there.
It’s also a good idea to reduce or eliminate background noise during the meal. If you can’t designate a separate room for the big game, at least turn the television off during dinner. Turn down the background music — or turn it off completely — while you eat. It tends to make people speak louder. Wait until your guests have left the table before clearing the dishes.
Clear the sight lines
If possible, make sure the dining room is well lit and the table is cleared of as many obstacles as possible. It’s easier for those with hearing loss to sit where they can see as many faces as possible, so consider putting them at the end of the table. This makes it easier for them to use any lip reading techniques they’ve developed or, at the very least, to see when someone is speaking.
If you’re like 60 percent of our survey respondents, you’ll adorn your dinner table with a centerpiece, candles or both. While candles and dimmed lighting create ambiance, they are also an obstacle for those with hearing loss. The obstruction makes it difficult to read lips and pick up on other visual clues which may help those with hearing loss follow the conversation easily.
The Healthy Hearing holiday table
Share the Healthy Hearing holiday table suggestion with others to make every holiday gathering hearing friendly! After all, when it’s all said and done, the best part about getting together during the holidays is the opportunity to spend time with those we love the most. When it comes to family members with hearing loss, all it takes is a little advance planning to make sure everyone involved has an enjoyable event.
Be your own advocate
If you’re a guest at a holiday gathering, don’t be afraid to take the hostess aside and politely talk to her about your needs. It’s okay to ask to be seated so that the majority of guests are on your “good” side (if you have one) or the farthest away from the kitchen clatter or television din. Enlist a friend or family member to be your dinner partner so they can help you catch conversation you might otherwise miss. If background noise is distracting you from hearing the conversation, speak up (politely) and let someone know you are having trouble hearing.
And remember – consider visiting a hearing care professional near you if you have trouble hearing your family during the holidays.