You get to your company’s annual holiday party and you’re immediately assaulted by noise. The din of shouted conversations, the clanging of glasses, and the throbbing beat of music are all mixing in your ears.
It makes you miserable.
You can’t hear a thing in this loud setting. You can’t keep up with conversations, you can’t hear the punch line of any joke, and you’re totally disoriented. How can anyone be enjoying this thing? But as the evening continues, you see that you’re the only person having trouble.
This most likely sounds familiar for individuals who are dealing with hearing loss. Unique stressors can be introduced at a holiday office party and for somebody with hearing loss, that can make it a solitary, dark event. But have no fear! This little survival guide can help you make it through your next holiday party unscathed (and maybe even have some fun while you’re at it).
Why holiday parties can be stressful
Even when you don’t have hearing loss, holiday parties are a unique combination of stress and fun (especially if you’re an introvert). If you struggle to hear when there’s a lot of background noise, holiday parties come with distinct stressors.
First and foremost is the noise. To put it into perspective: a holiday party is your team’s chance to let loose a little. In a setting like this, people have the tendency to talk at higher volumes and often at the same time. Alcohol can absolutely play a part. But even dry office parties can get to be a little on the boisterous side.
Some interference is produced by this, particularly for individuals with hearing loss. That’s because:
- Office parties include tons of people all talking simultaneously. It’s not easy to isolate one voice from many when you’re dealing with hearing loss.
- Plenty of background noise, laughing, clanking dishes, music, and other noises. Your brain has a hard time separating voices from all of this information.
- When you have hearing loss, indoor parties like office parties can make it even more difficult to hear because sound tends to become amplified.
This means that picking up and following conversations will be challenging for individuals who have hearing loss. At first glance, that may sound like a small thing.
So… What is the big deal?
The professional and networking aspect of things is where the big deal is. Office holiday parties, even though they are supposed to be social events, a lot of networking occurs and connections are made. At any rate, attendance is often encouraged, so here we are. Here are a couple of things to consider:
- You can network: It’s not uncommon for individuals to network with colleagues from their own and other departments at these holiday parties. People will still talk shop, even though it’s a social event it’s also a networking occasion. This can be a good opportunity to forge connections. But it’s harder when you’re dealing with hearing loss and can’t make out what’s going on because of the overwhelming noise.
- You can feel isolated: Most people are hesitant to be the one that says “what?” constantly. This is one reason why hearing loss and solitude often go hand-in-hand. Asking friends and family to repeat themselves is one thing but co-workers are a different story. They might mistake your hearing loss for incompetence. And that can harm your work reputation. So perhaps you simply avoid interaction instead. You’ll feel left out and left behind, and that’s not a great feeling for anyone!
This can be even more challenging because you may not even recognize you have hearing loss. Typically, one of the first indications of hearing loss is the inability to hear in crowded settings (such as office parties or crowded restaurants).
As a result, you might be surprised that you’re having a tough time following the conversation. And you may be even more surprised that you’re the only one.
Causes of hearing loss
So what causes this? How does hearing loss develop? Age and, or noise damage are the most common causes. Your ears will usually experience repeated injury from loud noise as you age. The stereocilia (fragile hairs in your ears that sense vibrations) become damaged.
That damage is permanent. And the more stereocilia that die, the worse your hearing becomes. In most circumstances, this type of hearing loss is irreversible (so you’re better off protecting your hearing before the injury happens).
Armed with this knowledge, you can make that holiday party a bit more pleasant in a few ways.
How to enjoy this year’s office party
Your office party offers some considerable opportunities (and fun!), so you’d rather not skip out. So, you’re thinking: how can I hear better in a noisy setting? Well, here are some tips to make your office party go a little better:
- Refrain from drinking too many cocktails: Communication is less effective as your thinking gets blurry. The whole thing will be a lot easier if you go easy on the drinking.
- Try to read lips: This can take a little practice (and good lighting). And it won’t ever be perfect. But some gaps can be filled in with this technique.
- Look at faces: Try to spend time with individuals who have really expressive faces and hand gestures when they speak. You will be capable of filling in comprehension gaps using these contextual clues.
- Find a less noisy place to have those conversations: Try sitting off to the side or around a corner. Sometimes, stationary objects can block a lot of noise and provide you with a slightly quiet(er) pocket, and you’ll be able to hear better during loud ambient noise.
- Take listening breaks: Take a 15 minute quiet break each hour. This will help prevent you from becoming totally exhausted after having to listen really hard.
Of course, the best possible solution is also one of the easiest.: get yourself a pair of hearing aids. These hearing aids can be personalized to your hearing needs, and they can also be subtle. Even if your hearing aids aren’t small, you’d rather people notice your hearing aids than your hearing loss.
Get your hearing checked before the party
If possible, get a hearing test before you go to the party. Due to COVID, this may be your first holiday party in several years, and you don’t want to be surprised by your hearing issues!