For individuals with hearing impairment, the holidays represent a stressful time. They may have trouble communicating effectively at parties with their lower levels of hearing. That is why it is so important holiday season to take a closer look at the struggles people with hearing loss go through every year. This article examines how hearing impaired people are affected by the holiday season as well as different ways that family and friends can make a difference. There are many different ways that hearing loss can affect an individual holiday season.
Forced Social Situations
Another way that hearing loss makes the holiday is a difficult time of year for people with hearing loss impairment is by forcing people into social situations for which they may not be prepared. This means that they will be more comfortable talking to family members and friends knowing that they are unable to fully participate in the conversation without having to strain their hearing or inconvenience the person that is listening to them.
Travel is Difficult
The first way that hearing loss can negatively impact the holiday season is by making travel very difficult for people who cannot hear well. The reason that this is so hard for them is that they cannot communicate well with people that are integral to the travel process, such as flight attendants and taxicab drivers. This makes them more willing to stay home rather than go out and meet their family at a destination that may be far away.
Health Problems
Sadly there are other side effects to not having good communication during the holidays. This can take form in medical problems such as anxiety and depression in people of any age. These dangerous health effects come as a result of isolating people isolating themselves from each other a fear of being uncomfortable during holiday gatherings for being an encumbrance upon others. The downside of these health problems can be tremendous for people who are unwilling to get help. Fortunately there are ways that people with hearing loss can get help in time for the holidays.
How to Help
First off, speaking to the hearing impaired in a clear and loud tone of voice or simply asking them what you can do to make their hearing experience better. Another way we can help them is by being more open minded and resourceful by including them in holiday gatherings and festivities. The other way that we can reach out to people who suffer from hearing loss is by asking them to see a hearing specialist. A hearing specialist is a medical professional that can discover new means of treating hearing loss in patients in order to improve their medical outcomes. One of the ways that they can help people is by giving them options to employ hearing aid devices.
Advances in Technology
With the advent of digital hearing aids there have been significant advances in the amount of hearing that is recovered as a result of using a hearing device. Hearing specialists can make a recommendation that will make social situations easier and more pleasurable for everyone involved. Help your fellow hearing impaired human by making it much easier to converse and engage this holiday.