Going out and enjoying social activities from dinner with loved ones or happy hour with your coworkers has different connotations for people with hearing loss. For those of us that suffer from hearing loss, it means a bit of preplanning has to be put into play, so less anxiety and more enjoyment are experienced. This article will explore ways in which people with hearing loss can navigate their way to a dinner out with a few friends without noisy backgrounds and high traffic areas getting in the way of good food and company.
A little groundwork
Look up the restaurant of choice on the web first. Many restaurants have websites that publish images of their interiors as well as menu choices, specials of the day and live music nights. On Google, there is usually information on the restaurant’s busiest times.
Choose dinner or lunch on the days the restaurant is the least busy. It will cut out a lot of the background noise. Call in advance to check if there is live music at the time you will be going. Restaurants that are active on social media will often reply to you quickly if you message them.
Disclose your condition to your lunch and dinner companions and offer a way for them to keep the conversation going. Let them know if you need them to sit facing you so you can see their expressions, or beside you, if you have hearing loss in one ear more than the other. Alerting the restaurant manager and staff as to your needs will also benefit everyone. In this way, you can relax and enjoy your meal and the company!
Seating Matters
Ask if you can be seated away from high traffic areas such as the main door, kitchen, bar area, service stations or next to large parties. Make sure you are sitting away from any speakers as well. Request a well-lit area so that you can easily read the menu and also be able to see the facial expressions of your fellow companions. Peruse their website and see if they have carpeted areas (absorbs background sound), large booths for small parties, or corner tables away from the busiest areas.
Research the menu online beforehand when possible. It may be difficult to hear the server’s recitation of the daily specials. Consider asking for a printed menu and specials of the day. Point to which items you would like if it makes it easier for yourself and your server. If you know what you like, order before you are asked. For example, “I’d like the thin crust pizza and a side salad with oil and vinegar.”
Places to Avoid
Sports bars are not a good place to gather for a meal unless you are only going to eat and read closed captioning on TV watching a game. Business meetings held at restaurants are not generally a great idea unless a private room is booked or the restaurant has a very quiet space for such purposes.
Hearing Aids Help!
If you have hearing aids check and see if they can be programmed to a public setting such as a restaurant and change your settings accordingly. Your hearing needs will change from one environment to another. Remember to position yourself with your back to any noise.
If you have an iPhone-compatible hearing aid, you can use the “live-listen” feature of the phone. When speaking with a particular person they can use the phone with you as an assistive listening device. Using a Bluetooth or wired microphone, a captioning app downloaded onto your phone or tablet is another option. Speech is captioned in real time as it is spoken into the microphone and shown on the screen of your device.
Other Assistive Listening Options
This system can be used with one person or multiple people at the same time. It is one of the most effective ways to hear speech over background noise. The person speaking will have a microphone and the person with hearing loss has the receiver. The amplification of the speaker is well directed as their speech is directed into the microphone. In conjunction with your hearing aids, many companies also manufacture microphones. These are more cost-effective than the FM system and can be used with one speaker at a time.
Desert Valley Audiology
Whenever you have questions about the use of technology for your hearing loss it is a good idea to check with our team at Desert Valley Audiology. We will do their best to match your needs with compatible, affordable products.
Desert Valley Audiology encourages you or someone close to you to give us a call should you have any questions. Hearing loss can be complex and overwhelming and we are ready to help you in any way we can. A hearing assessment in your first appointment will be a good start to a richer, fuller hearing experience.