9 Tips for Better Hearing at Family Events

For those with hearing impairments, the noise generated around family meals during events and shared dinners can cause frustration and discomfort. They may find it difficult to understand their surroundings and even miss the opportunity to participate in such events. So, what can you do? Here are some important and helpful tips to make your dining experience easier.

Although hearing loss is commonly associated with older adults due to aging, there are also many young individuals who suffer from hearing impairments due to various factors. Here are some tips for better hearing.

1. Don't hide it - Share with those around you and tell them about your hearing difficulties. If you have trouble hearing and understanding what is being said, simply communicate that. Inform new friends or those unaware that you have a hearing impairment and use hearing aids or cochlear implants to hear.

2. Get closer - Ask your friends to come closer and speak directly to you. Sometimes the necessary distance for understanding may be as short as 0.5 meters, depending on the degree of hearing impairment. Do not expect to understand a distant conversation when there are additional conversations in the background.

3. Don't shout - Ask your friends not to shout but to speak clearly and naturally. It is also advisable to request that they slow down their speech. This will help you understand the conversation better than raising their voice. Many think that if they shout, it will help you hear better. Explain to them that this is not the case to prevent it.

4. Repeat - If you did not hear a word or sentence clearly - do not hesitate to ask your friends to repeat what they said.

5. Face to face - Ask your friends to look in your direction and face you during the conversation. This way, you can also rely on lip and facial movements, read body language, and receive additional non-verbal cues, especially in a noisy environment or where competing conversations are in the background.

6. One at a time - If you are participating in a group discussion, sit or stand where you can see the speakers' faces. If necessary, ask them to take turns speaking so you can follow the conversation.

7. Comfortable environment - The environment has a significant impact on your ability to hear and understand speech. If you are in a noisy environment, with background music playing, it is advisable to turn off any unnecessary devices.

8. Let there be light - If the place is dark and you cannot see the speakers' faces, ask to light up the room or move the conversation to a well-lit area.

9. Draw attention - If your child uses a hearing aid, it is important to draw their attention before starting a conversation. When a person with a hearing impairment is aware that they are being spoken to, their understanding improves significantly.

Efrat Mor is a senior speech therapist at Medtechnika Orthophon.