This year’s holidays look a lot different than in previous years. While the CDC recommends limiting travel and avoiding gathering in large groups, there are still ways to stay connected and enjoy the warm smiles of those you love most. If you have hearing loss, it may make it slightly harder to celebrate virtually, which is why we’ve compiled the following tips to make the most of your on-screen festivities.
Use the Best Tech
Zoom has been the platform of choice for many families, schools and businesses. However, this platform is not the best option for people with hearing loss. Google Meet is preferable because it provides free ASR captions on all calls.
Even if the rest of your family chooses to use Zoom or another platform that doesn’t offer caption services, there are still ways to make sure you don’t miss a word. You can download a speech-to-text app like Live Transcribe (Android only) or Otter.ai. Make sure to set your phone close to the computer speakers in order to provide the best sound quality. Accuracy can often be improved by using an external microphone.
When you’re on a video call, make sure to use speaker mode. This will enlarge the image of the speaker, making it easier to pick up visual cues.
If your hearing devices are Bluetooth-enabled, you can connect them to your computer so the audio is delivered directly to your ears. If not, noise-canceling headphones can also improve clarity.
Set Guidelines and Expectations
It’s important to have structure when visiting virtually. Make sure that at the beginning of the call, everyone knows to…
- Wait their turn to speak. When multiple people talk at once, it makes everything inaudible, even for those with normal hearing.
- Mute their mics when it’s not their turn. This will reduce distracting background noise.
- Set an agenda. If everyone knows the timeline of events in advance, it will make transitions smoother.
- Sit in a well-lit area with the camera on. This will help anyone who is hard of hearing pick up important visual cues.
For more communication tips or to schedule an appointment, call The Hearing & Balance Center today.