Whether it’s a work event, a family reunion, or celebrating a friend’s birthday somewhere like Graze Restaurant it seems as though there’s a different social event every week.
Considering that 7.1% of adults over the age of 45 use hearing aids, many may be wondering how to navigate these parties while wearing hearing aids. Thankfully, if you use hearing aids, there are several things you can do to make it an easier and more enjoyable experience for you as well as everyone involved.
Be Prepared 
Before you head to your event, make sure your hearing aids are fully charged or that you bring batteries with you if you use disposable kinds. Also, if possible, try to make sure you are well-rested before going to any social get-together. Hearing loss can cause an increase in listening fatigue, and while hearing aids can help, it’s still helpful to go into situations feeling less exhausted.
Consider Your Location
If you have a say as to where a certain event is happening, advocate for hearing-friendly environments! This means places with less background noise, noise-absorbing carpets and drapes as opposed to hardwood floors, and somewhere that is well-lit to make seeing facial expressions easier.
Even if you don’t pick the location, you can maximize your environment by picking a spot in the perimeter of the room away from the most noise and don’t be afraid to ask a friend to step outside with you if the environment you’re in is too loud.
Use Your Hearing Aid Settings
Many hearing aids have features that can automatically adjust their settings depending on the environment. If you have hearing aids with Bluetooth™, you can adjust your settings easily and discretely with the corresponding hearing aid app on your smartphone. Hearing aids can help suppress unwanted background noise and focus on the voices of your friends and other things you want to hear.
Be Open About Your Hearing Loss
Though you might feel uncomfortable about it, it can be helpful to be open with others about your hearing loss. This can be helpful in multiple ways. Firstly, it lets the person you are talking to know that if you don’t respond or mishear something, it’s not due to you not paying attention to them. Secondly, you can use it as an opportunity to discuss helpful communication strategies like making sure someone gets your attention before speaking to you and making sure to face you when they are talking.
For more information on how to socialize with hearing aids or to schedule an appointment, call Charleston ENT & Allergy today.