Staying Social with a Hearing Aid
Published: 8/22/2023 4:55:47 AM
Does socialising with a hearing aid give you anxiety? We’ve put together a few tips that may be able to help you regain your confidence and stay social with your hearing aid.
Be upfront
Having a hearing loss can be a great social icebreaker - you may even find out you are not alone! Being candid and honest will relieve any initial stress caused by your loss, even adding some humour if appropriate will help keep it light. Ensuring you’re comfortable with your loss will put everyone at ease.
Location, location, location
Get creative with outings! A BBQ or a picnic in the park is a great way to get outdoors and is hearing-loss friendly. Alternatively, playing cards or board games is an old-school way for you to socialise in a familiar environment.
Explain the best ways to communicate
If you have a better hearing side, tell people your preferred side and make sure they speak to you on this side. You can also ask people to face you when speaking so you can lip-read and see visual cues. Try to explain your loss and that you struggle to hear in noisy environments, instead of zoning out of the conversation becoming isolated.
Be confident
Socialising with a hearing loss can be a daunting experience but your aid is there to help and keep you confident you’re not missing out. Gradually build on your confidence and tell others how they can communicate with you. Don’t let hearing loss get in the way of you living your best life.
