Holiday Meal Approaching: How to Hear Better

The sense of hearing is a central foundation in managing our personal lifestyle. This sense develops even before birth and accompanies us throughout our entire day, even during sleep. Currently, about a million Israelis suffer from hearing impairments, facing difficulties communicating with those around them. Today, through innovative solutions, those with hearing impairments can function normally and comfortably. As the Tishrei holidays approach, here are some important tips for people with hearing impairments and their surroundings to help them function better at the holiday table.

1. Sharing - Share with those around you. Don’t be embarrassed to talk about your hearing difficulties. Don’t hesitate to inform family and friends that you use hearing aids or cochlear implants to hear better. This can significantly ease conversations and avoid awkward situations.

2. Focused Listening - To avoid background noise, ask those around you to come closer and speak while facing you.

3. Clear Speaking - Ask those around you to speak clearly and naturally as part of a regular conversation, not to shout. Also, feel comfortable asking them to slow down the pace of speech so you can fully understand the conversation.

4. Repeat Again - If you didn’t catch a word or sentence from those around you, don’t hesitate to ask them to repeat themselves.

5. Comfortable Viewing Angle - When those around you talk to you, try to create a viewing angle where you can see their faces. This will help you understand additional non-verbal cues, especially in a noisy environment.

6. One at a Time - Assuming the holiday meal has many participants, request that people speak to you one at a time, not all together. This will significantly ease understanding the content of conversations.

7. Background Noise - The environment has a crucial impact on hearing and understanding speech. If you are in a noisy environment, it's advisable to minimize background noise. This way, it will be easier to have an interesting conversation with participants.

8. Lighting - Even lighting directly affects understanding the conversation. Ensure that conversations take place in well-lit areas, not in the dark, so you can see speakers' faces and grasp the conversation from non-verbal cues.

In conclusion, in recent years, we have witnessed technology serving people with hearing impairments. Thanks to cochlear implants, those with hearing loss can actively participate in any social setting. Additionally, it's important to remember that fitting and implementing hearing technology is a significant component in the hearing rehabilitation process.

Chaya Sandik is a speech therapist at Medtechnica Orthon.