Have you noticed that Christmas decorations are already creeping into the shops?
The big day will be here in the blink of an eye.
For most people, Christmas celebrations are a chance to share a meal. To enjoy a celebratory drink with family and friends.
But if you’re one of the one in six Australians with hearing loss, you might struggle to hear conversations when the noise level rises.
Here are 7 ideas on how to hear better this Christmas
- If you wear hearing aids, make sure you have spare batteries handy. You don’t want to be caught short.
- You might also want to ensure that your hearing aids are in good working order. If you need to have your hearing care clinician check them over, make sure you make your appointment a few weeks before your Christmas events.
- When attending celebrations, be upfront with the people about your difficulties hearing in noisy places. Ask them to face you directly when they’re speaking.
- If you’re dining out, pick a good spot at the table. This might be a seat where there’s a wall behind you. This helps cut down on distracting noises around you.
- And don’t feel bad about asking people to repeat themselves. It’s better to get the message right than try to pretend you’ve heard what they’ve said. This can lead to awkward moments!
- Who doesn’t love a Christmas Carol, but hearing over all the din can be hard if you have a hearing loss. You don’t want to be a killjoy, but I’m sure your host won’t mind if you ask them to turn the music down a little.
- If you don’t want to miss out on that ‘once-in-a-blue-moon’ conversation with Cousin Anne or your ‘favourite’ grandchild, find a quieter place to talk.
Don’t struggle to hear this Christmas
If you think you may have a hearing loss, don’t wait until Christmas Day to do something about it.
Make a free appointment with your local hearing care clinic. In under an hour, they can test your hearing and suggest the best solution for you.
Most importantly, enjoy yourself! And Merry Christmas from all of us at My Hearing.
If you have any questions about your hearing, or about how to cope in noisy environments, please give us a call on (08) 7522 4235 to make an appointment. Or send us a message.
We’re open right up until 12.30pm on Christmas Eve (24th December) and reopen on January 4 2022.