1. Hearing well through the Holidays
By: Liza Segleau

2. Holidays
“Blindness will separate you from things, deafness will separate you from people” Hellen Keller.
By nature we are social beings. Celebrating holidays and important moments in our lives, is part of who we are. Hard to get away from engaging in such activities.

3. Holidays
Being social for the deaf and hard of hearing can be challenging.
We all find ways to “cope”. Sometimes we do it in healthy ways, other times we don't.

4. Holidays
Hard times:
Sometimes we are in between. A time in which we have not quite found effective solutions for our lack of hearing.
Patience and active participation in finding the solutions will be important.
For this in between time, seek the professional, social, family, friendly support you need.
To run and hide will just make things worse for you emotionally.

5. Holidays Holiday ideas:
If you have the equipment needed to hear and communicate, here are some ideas / tricks to use to survive all the socials...

6. Holidays Restaurants: Request the quietest spot possible
Seek out restaurants with carpet and low ceilings
Seek out restaurants with a ceiling period. Some restaurants have the “factory” design in which there is no ceiling and you see pipes and the tin roof. This makes for a difficult hearing situation.
Request more lighting at the table if needed
Place yourself with your back to a wall
Sit yourself where you can see most everyone at the table
Request that the “tinsel” music be turned down
Stay away from sitting near the entrance and exit for the kitchen
Use a group microphone that can interact with your hearing instrument
Bring a pad and pen if needed

7. Holidays
At home:
Arrange the furniture in a way that is helpful for you
Sit where you can see most everyone
Have your back to a wall, away from noises such as the refrigerator, or other noise making things in the home
See that there is no music playing in the background
Use a group microphone if your hearing instrument is equipped to handle one
Ask if they would mind to talk one person at a time so you don't miss out on the fun conversations
Keep all requests in a positive / fun light
See that there is sufficient lighting in the room

8. Holidays Things to consider for the environment you are in:
The larger the room and higher ceiling, the more difficult it will be to hear
Background noise and music will interfere with hearing others
Louder is not better
Being closer to the source is more helpful
Using ALDs in more difficult environments might help reduce the stress, your stress
Focus on one on one communication to connect with others during the celebration
Many people talking at the same time will reduce your ability to understand

9. Holidays Caring for yourself: Take breaks
Learn which program on your hearing instrument will be best ahead of time
Practice using ALDs
Let your needs be known. Not advocating for yourself will only hurt you
Get your rest. Listening in a groups/celebrations is hard work
Have someone rescue you when you appear tired and fading away

10. Holidays
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