Use these tips to manage your hearing loss in restaurants.
The holiday season is a time when our schedule fills with various gatherings — from outings with family in town to corporate holiday parties to celebrations with friends. Often, this will include dining out and enjoying a meal together.
During the busy holiday season, the combination of festive cheer, crowded spaces, and background noise can make it difficult for people with hearing loss to have meaningful conversations in restaurants.
That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy these holiday outings along with the rest of the group! With a few adjustments when planning, you can help make the experience more inclusive for yourself and anyone else in your group who has hearing loss.
Here are some useful tips to manage hearing loss in restaurants this holiday season:
- Choose your restaurant wisely
- Make reservations for less busy times
- Request a quiet table
- Familiarize yourself with the menu
- Communicate your needs
- Bring your own assistive devices
- Sit close to the people you want to hear
- Stay positive and practice gratitude
Let’s explore these tips for hearing loss and restaurants below!
Choose your restaurant wisely
Restaurants can be noisy places, and the holiday season often exacerbates this. Be mindful of background noise, and try to choose restaurants known for a quieter ambiance. Laid-back, cozy settings can provide a more comfortable dining experience. But be sure there is ample lighting to be able to see each other’s faces. If you’re connected with any local hearing loss groups, ask around for their favorite recommendations!
Make reservations for less busy times
Avoid the hustle and bustle of peak dining hours by making reservations for less busy times. Early dinners or weekday lunches are often less crowded, which can reduce background noise and stress for guests and busy servers. Off-peak hours are great for groups seeking a more relaxed dining experience.
Request a quiet table
When making your reservation (which is always smart this time of year!) or upon arriving at the restaurant, politely request a table in a quieter area. Choosing a table away from the entrance, kitchen, or the main traffic flow can significantly reduce background noise, making it easier to hear and converse with your companions. If the restaurant has round tables, that can also make it easier for you to see visual cues from everyone in the group.
Familiarize yourself with the menu
Before you arrive at the restaurant, review the menu online if possible. Knowing what you want in advance can also make the ordering process smoother. If the restaurant is known for great specials, try checking ahead to see what they are, or requesting a written list when you arrive. Then, you won’t have to worry about straining to hear the server or feeling rushed or pressured to make a decision.
Communicate your needs
Whether with restaurant staff or your own companions, it’s always helpful for you to be direct about your needs if you are comfortable doing so. When you aren’t the one planning the event, let the coordinator know about your communication preferences and any accommodations that would help you. If possible, mention it to your server so he or she will know to speak clearly and move closer when taking your order or asking questions. Alternatively, one of your family members, friends, or coworkers may be willing to listen and repeat any details you miss.
Bring your own assistive devices
If you use hearing aids or other assistive devices, make sure they are in good working order and properly adjusted before heading out to the restaurant. These devices often have a setting that minimizes background noise so you can focus on the conversations happening nearby.
Sit close to the people you want to hear
Want to catch up with your cousin who’s back in town for the family reunion? Or spend the night laughing with your closest colleague? When dining out, try to sit close to the people you most want to have conversations with. Being closer to the source of sound can help you hear more clearly. If you rely on lip-reading, consider arranging your seating so that you can face your companions (e.g., sitting across the table).
Stay positive and practice gratitude
Above all, maintain a positive attitude and be patient with yourself and others. Dining out during the holidays should be an enjoyable experience, so don’t let worries about communicating in restaurants take over your thoughts. Savor the delicious food, admire the ambiance, and bask in the warmth of being with friends and family. That’s what makes the holidays wonderful!
CapTel captioned phones can make it easier to navigate restaurants and hearing loss by allowing you to call in advance to make reservations and ask questions with ease — you can read along to everything they say! View our captioned phone selection here.
