Tips for Enjoying Summer Barbecues With Hearing Loss

Posted on by Advanced ENT & Allergy

Barbecues can be a great way to spend time with friends while enjoying the summer sun. Approximately 15% of U.S. adults report some trouble hearing, and knowing how to best accommodate for your hearing loss during these events can help you have a fun and stress-free time.

Check out some of our environmental and personal tips for enjoying barbecues with hearing loss.

Environmental Tips

Man putting barbecue on woman's plate at a barbecue

There are a couple of ways you can tweak the environment of the barbecue to suit your hearing needs including:

  • Turning down the music. Music provides a great atmosphere for a barbecue but can prevent those with hearing loss from understanding their peers. If you are hosting the event, keep music at a lower volume or decide not to provide it. If you’re attending a friend’s event, respectfully request for the music to be lowered so that you can understand the conversation.
  • Mingle with smaller groups. Understanding large groups can be difficult with hearing loss. Multiple people talking back and forth can leave you missing information. Try opting for smaller groups rather than a large table for the barbecue.

Personal Tips

In addition to changing the environment, there are a couple of personal tips for easing the stress of hearing loss at your summer barbecues, including:

  • Informing your friends of your hearing loss. If you feel comfortable, informing your friends of your hearing loss can be a great way to ensure people know to speak up or directly to you.
  • Speak up for yourself. If you’re having trouble hearing somebody, feel confident to ask them to speak up, face you more directly or repeat themselves. They’ll be happy you were able to hear them, and you’ll be able to engage more completely with the conversation.
  • Take a break. If you start feeling overwhelmed by the noise of the barbecue, give yourself a break. Try taking a walk, using the restroom or just taking a seat away from the group.
  • Wear hearing aids. Hearing aids provide many benefits, including voice amplification and background noise minimization. They will help you better understand conversations and have a more stress-free event.

Contact Advanced ENT & Allergy today to discuss your hearing loss questions with one of our trusted audiologists.