Going out to eat is a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, or just a nice excuse to avoid doing any dishes. Whatever your reason for heading to one of Grapevine’s restaurants, there’s one thing we know for sure: you’ll have an easier time talking to your dining companions when you plan and use your hearing aids effectively.
Why Are Restaurants Challenging for People With Hearing Loss?
A busy night at Chez Fabien is awash in clinking silverware, kitchen noise and chatting diners. All that background noise requires your ears to use a skill we call the “cocktail party effect.” The cocktail party effect is your ability to tune out competing sounds and focus on a single speaker or noise source. While people without hearing loss may effectively employ that skill, a 2021 study found that people with hearing loss struggle with it.
Finding ways to accommodate your hearing loss is crucial to a clearer, more entertaining night on the town.
Four Helpful Accommodations
Before you go to your next dinner, consider the following accommodations:
- Choose the right restaurant. Large restaurants packed with tons of tables and echoey tile or hardwood floors can create a tricky hearing environment. Look for restaurants with booths, soft furnishings and tables that are not too close together. Try checking online reviews or using a sound-tracking app to see if any previous patrons mentioned the restaurant being excessively noisy.
- Go early. An early-bird dinner is usually a quiet dinner. Schedule your reservation between five and six to miss the peak hours when restaurants tend to be noisier.
- Request a quiet seat. A booth or small table away from the kitchen or entrance will offer the most hearing-friendly environment. Mention that you need quiet seating when you make your reservation to ensure there’s a spot available.
- Change your hearing aid settings. The best way to get the most out of your hearing aids is to adjust their settings based on your environment. For example, a quiet library won’t need as much amplification as a noisy restaurant on Valentine’s Day. Your hearing aids may have AI that automatically adapts their settings. If they don’t, you can change the settings in your companion app.
By following the above tips, you can enjoy a night out with laughter, shared stories and, most importantly, no dishes. For more information on managing your hearing loss, contact Heard It Through The Grapevine Audiology, PC today.