It’s that time of year again, the time to share a feast with loved ones, remember what we’re thankful for, and eat tremendous amounts of turkey (and pie, of course). You may be hosting a family gathering or simply attending one: either way, a little planning can help things to run smoothly and reduce stress. A 2014 study by Healthy Hearing revealed that half of family get-togethers will include a person with hearing loss, and 30 percent of these gatherings will include someone with hearing aids.
If you have a loved one with hearing loss, you may be wondering how to make them feel more at ease at the holiday meal, and ensure they will be able to partake in the conversation. Read on for some helpful suggestions on how to make sure your family dinner is as hearing-friendly as possible.
Designate spaces for different activities
Thanksgiving gatherings come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re hosting an event where there are likely to be a lot of young children, you may want to designate a room where they can play together, watch movies, or sleep if it gets late.
If there are football fans in the family, they’ll want a place to watch the game. If your space accommodates, keep the football watching and dining areas separate to reduce noise.
You might also consider creating a quiet space away from the hubbub, where guests can go if they want to have a moment alone or one-on-one conversations. Big dinners can be relentlessly noisy, and stressful even to those with perfect hearing. Your hard of hearing relatives will certainly appreciate having a designated ‘quiet’ place to retreat to, if necessary.
Tips for reducing the volume level
Kitchens are busy places, especially during holiday meals. They also seem to be the best places to gather during such events. Add the sound of one or conversations to exhaust fans, clanging pans, the clatter of dishes being washed and your dad and sister arguing about the stuffing, and you get a very noisy place. This level of background noise can make it very difficult for people with hearing loss to follow conversations, whether they wear hearing aids or not. Keep this in mind while making the seating plan, and make sure that any guests with hearing loss are seated as far away from the kitchen as possible. If you have hearing loss yourself, ask to be seated at the end of the table farthest from the kitchen; your host won’t mind accommodating this simple request and your ears will thank you.
Consider also if there are other ways you can eliminate or reduce background noise during the meal. If you plan on playing music prior to the dinner, turn it off (or down to a very low level) when guests sit down to eat. If you don’t have enough space to allow for a separate football-watching area, insist the game be turned off during the meal. And unless it’s absolutely necessary to do it before, wait until your relatives have gotten up from their seats to clear the table.
Think about sightlines
People with hearing loss very often rely on visual cues (such as watching people’s faces as they talk) to help them distinguish speech, know who is speaking, and in some cases read lips. You can make sure your hard of hearing guests are able to see everyone at the table with some simple planning.
Round or oval tables are an excellent choice, as they allow all seated guests to see each other clearly. But if you have a long table, ask any hard of hearing guests if they would like a place at the end of the table, to see everyone more clearly.
Lighting is not only about creating ‘ambience.’ Make sure your dining table is well-lit enough that guests can see each other clearly, especially if the meal will be happening after dark. Think about adding a few lamps or a soft, overhead light to brighten up that candlelit table.
Centerpieces may seem like an essential part of creating the perfect Thanksgiving meal, adding beauty and festivity to the table. But keep in mind that a large centerpiece could be an obstacle for those with hearing loss. Keeping your table decorations simple and small will help to ensure everyone can follow conversations easily.
If you’re a hard of hearing guest–make your needs known
If you have hearing loss you will already know that holiday gatherings can be noisy affairs, where it is difficult to follow conversations. Don’t hesitate to speak to the host or hostess privately about any accommodations that will help you interact comfortably.
If you hear better out of one ear than the other, don’t be afraid to ask to be seated so that most guests at the table are on your “good side”. Look for a seat that is likely to be farthest away from the loudest source of noise (such as the kitchen, the tv room or the kids table). It may also be a good idea to ask for a “dinner buddy”, a relative who can sit next to you and fill you in on conversation you might have missed. Choose someone who speaks clearly and who you can understand relatively easily.
Pie and turkey are important, but the great thing about holiday meals is that they give us a chance to see and connect with our loved ones. Planning ahead is a great way to make sure everyone can enjoy the best part of these events–the conversation.
Concerned about your hearing abilities? Visit us at Hearing Wellness Solutions before the holidays to get your hearing tested.