Whether it’s for work, school, or some other social function, attending a cocktail party is a common occurrence these days. This is especially true during the holiday season when parties are scheduled in close succession and easily fill up your social calendar.
What
is an event to be anticipated for most, however, can be an event to be dreaded
by individuals with hearing
loss.
Between background music and noisy crowds, the environment of a cocktail party
is one that can be especially difficult to navigate if you’re unable to hear
well.
How to survive a cocktail party with
hearing loss
Having
a hearing
impairment is no reason to boycott parties altogether, however.
Instead, try implementing these tips for controlling your environment and
helping to mitigate any issues that might arise.
- Go to
the party well-rested.
When you have hearing loss, your brain is
already working overtime to process and make sense of the information it gets.
Being tired just aggravates the condition. When you know you have a party
coming up on the calendar, plan ahead and get plenty of sleep before you go.
- Location,
location, location.
Once you arrive at the party, where you choose
to hang out is key to your ability to have a good time. Whenever possible, pick
a spot along the perimeter of the room, where you’re out of the center of the
noise and commotion. Ideally, a corner location provides the best acoustics for
being able to hear and interact with someone next to you.
- Choose
your environment.
Many times, parties are held in several rooms,
with the main event in one area, and other side rooms for eating, dancing, or
other socializing. If available, choose to spend most of your time in an area
with carpet or drapery. These will help to dampen background noise and provide
an environment more conducive to conversation.
- Tell
others about your hearing loss.
Most people are more than willing to make
accommodations for you if they simply know that you have difficulty hearing. Let
your party’s host and your companions know that you have hearing loss. Armed
with this knowledge, they’ll be better able to suggest a quiet place to talk,
or maybe even turn down the music so you can hear better.
- Use
the appropriate hearing technology.
If you have hearing aids, this is not the time
to leave them at home! This is especially true if you have smartphone
hearing aids as they can be extremely useful in being able
to discreetly manage your environment and eliminate background noise.
- Practice
body language and hand gestures.
If the noise of the party is such that you’re
not able to communicate properly, use other forms of communication like
gestures. The familiar hand cupped behind the ear is a great way to let someone
know you can’t hear them without interrupting the conversation to tell them so.
- Enjoy
the party in small time increments.
Sometimes, you just need a break from all the
commotion. Don’t feel bad if you need to excuse yourself and leave the room for
a little bit to recharge your batteries (your internal ones, not your hearing
aids!).
- Have
fun and laugh!
Parties are meant to be enjoyed, so live it up! And, don’t
be afraid to laugh at yourself and the situation if you do hear things
incorrectly … it could be humorous!
So
there you have it … your cocktail party survival guide. Be sure to put it to
use at your next party and you’ll find that living
with hearing loss is not so difficult after all!
The post 8 Tips for Surviving a Cocktail Party with Hearing Loss appeared first on Hear Well – Live Well.
Source: Hear Well-Live Well Blog
