Holidays can be a difficult time of the year for anyone who is struggling to hear. It is the one time of year when their hearing loss can cause them to feel particularly isolated and depressed even when they are not alone. The inability to actively participate in conversation leaves the individual with the hearing loss feeling inadequate and emotionally isolated. If you have hearing loss and have yet to do anything about it, here a few tips to help get you through the holiday season.
Getting through the holidays with a hearing loss
- Position yourself away from the source of any music and gravitate toward the quieter parts of a room. Lessening the amount of competing noise will improve your chances of hearing what you want to hear.
- If you’re having a sit-down dinner, pick a seat beside a close friend or relative. Being close to a familiar voice will ensure that you can participate in at least one conversation with a limited amount of stress.
- Find a friend or relative with whom you can hang out at the party. This person can help you to feel more included in the conversation and can repeat things you may not understand.
- Take a break, even if it’s just for a few minutes. The constant need to try to understand what others are saying can be draining. Go outside, make a pretend phone call, take a short walk by yourself, find a reason to eliminate the need to converse. The break will give your brain a rest and allow you to get ready for the next round of conversations.
After the holidays
Unfortunately, if you have a hearing loss, you aren’t the only one who is experiencing a problem. Studies have shown friends, and family members can and do experience frustration, stress, and anger at having to deal with a significant others hearing loss.
Perhaps it’s time to consider getting a hearing test and doing something about your hearing problem. After all,
“When someone in the family has a hearing loss, the whole family has a hearing problem.” Mark Ross