For those with hearing loss, Christmas can be a challenging time of year. It can be incredibly difficult to follow conversation when there is chatter all around and Maria Carey hitting the high notes in the background. 

Those with hearing loss may be tempted to avoid social situations during the party season. Fear of saying pardon too many times or mishearing and saying the wrong thing, can lead to complete withdrawal from vital social interactions. 

This doesn’t need to be the case however, as there a few tips and tricks that will help to create a good listening environment, so that everyone can enjoy the party season. 

If you have a hearing loss or are organising a party with guests who do, these simple tips may be useful. 

• Encourage one to one conversation in a quiet corner of the room, or move to another room away from the noise. 

• Make sure there is good lighting so that those who rely on lip reading can see faces. Also make sure there are no tall objects on tables that could act as a barrier between faces. 

• Opt for round tables so that those with hearing loss can see all faces and where the speech is coming from.

• Take a break. Listening when there is lots of noise can be tiring. It is ok if you need to take yourself off to a quiet area for a break. 

• For celebrations at home, set separate areas for conversation and dancing. Keep the music lower when dinner is served and sit furthest away from the speakers or kitchen noise.

• Ask a friend to subtly nudge you if you have missed somebody trying to talk to you. 

• When planing an overnight stay, make sure you have packed a supply of hearing aid batteries or charger, cleaning cloth and filters. 

If you are worried about missing out on the fun of the festivities, there is still time to address any hearing loss. Contact Independent Hearing Care today and start your journey to better hearing.