A meal out at a restaurant is a great way to enjoy time with friends, go out for date night, try new foods or simply avoid doing the dishes. However, for more than 10% of the people in the U.S. with hearing loss, overwhelming background noise and distractions can turn dining out into a stressful communication experience.
Why Is Dining Out Tricky With Hearing Loss?
With hearing loss, your brain struggles to differentiate between speech and background noise, increasing listening effort and significantly impacting your ability to communicate effectively in challenging auditory environments. This difficulty is especially pronounced in bustling settings like Friday night dinners at Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar, where clinking dishes, background music and multiple conversations can overwhelm your ears. When communicating with your dining companions becomes difficult, it might seem easier to avoid noisy situations altogether, causing you to miss out on enjoyable nights.
How Can You Improve Your Dining Experience?
Hearing loss doesn’t need to stop you from enjoying a nice meal. A few ways you can improve your dining experience include:
- Select a quiet restaurant. Opt for restaurants known for their peaceful atmosphere. Look for places with outdoor seating, private dining rooms or well-spaced tables to minimize noise. Avoid areas with loud music, open kitchens or packed seating.
- Reserve a specific table. If you make a reservation, request a table in a quiet area of the restaurant, away from high-traffic zones like the kitchen, bar or entrance. Sitting with your back to the wall can also help block background noise.
- Sit face-to-face. Visual cues like lip movements, facial expressions and body language can provide context clues. Position yourself so you can see everyone’s faces.
- Leverage your hearing aids. Hearing aids help amplify your dining experience. Many modern hearing aids have features that can help in noisy environments. Make sure your hearing aids are fully charged and set to the appropriate program for a restaurant setting. Some hearing aids even offer smartphone apps that allow you to adjust settings on the go.
- Preview the menu. Familiarize yourself with the menu before you arrive. This reduces the need for lengthy discussions with the server and helps you feel more confident placing your order.
- Communicate your needs. Don’t hesitate to inform your server or dining companions about your hearing loss. Politely ask them to speak clearly and face you when talking.
By carefully selecting your restaurant, choosing a quiet table, relying on visual cues and hearing aids, previewing the menu and clearly communicating your needs, you can enjoy a pleasant and stress-free dining experience. For more information on managing your hearing loss, contact Today’s Hearing today to make an appointment with one of our trusted specialists.