Dining out is an excellent way to get to know someone on a first date, spend time with your friends or just avoid doing dishes. For the 15% of U.S. adults with hearing loss, however, dining out may feel like more of a chore than a treat.
How Does Hearing Loss Interfere With Dining Out?
The bustling environment of a popular Secaucus restaurant adds to the fun of dining out but can also make for challenging conversation. Background noise can make it difficult for people with untreated hearing loss to understand their friends and the server. Additionally, the extra mental effort they employ to comprehend speech can leave them feeling too drained to enjoy their night.
How Can I Improve My Dining Experience?
Hearing loss doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying a night out. Try a few of these tips to create a hearing loss-friendly dining experience:
- Wear hearing aids. Hearing aids collect and amplify important speech to help you talk with friends. Many modern models have advanced AI processing that separates speech from background noise, ensuring that clanking dishes and noisy cooking don’t disrupt communication.
- Sit in the middle. Speech moves in the direction a person is facing. If someone is turned away, you may have trouble understanding them. If you’re dining with multiple people, sit in the most centrally-located seat—where you can see the most people’s faces. If possible, ask for a round or square table.
- Ask for a corner table. Tables in the middle of the room tend to be louder because they’re surrounded by people. Ask for a table in the corner of the room, ideally away from the kitchen or bathroom, and sit with your back facing the wall.
- Go at quiet times. Restaurants often get busier around six or seven. If you can, make a reservation for around five to enjoy a more peaceful atmosphere. You may even get to take advantage of early dining happy hours.
- Sit outside. Outdoor dining is usually quieter than indoor dining. Consider sitting outside if the weather is nice or the restaurant has outdoor heaters.
For more information on managing hearing loss, contact Speech & Hearing Associates today.