You’re bombarded by noise as soon as you get to the annual company holiday party. The din of shouted conversations, the clanging of glasses, and the pulsating beat of music are all mixing in your ears.
It makes you miserable.
In such a loud environment, you can’t hear a thing. The punch lines of jokes are getting lost, you can’t hear conversations and it’s all very disorienting. How can anybody be enjoying this thing? But then you look around and see that you’re the only person that seems to be having difficulty.
For people with hearing loss, this most likely sounds familiar. The office holiday party can present some unique stressors and as a result, what should be a jolly affair is nothing more than a dour, solitary event. But have no fear! You can make it through the next holiday party without difficulty with this little survival guide and maybe you will even enjoy yourself.
Why holiday parties can be stressful
Holiday parties are usually a unique mix of fun and stress, (if you’re introverted this is especially true) even if your hearing is healthy. For those with hearing loss or if you struggle to hear with loud background noise, holiday parties present some unique stressors.
The noise itself is the most prominent. To put it into perspective: a holiday party is your team’s opportunity to let loose a little bit. In an environment like this, individuals tend to talk at louder volumes and often all at once. Alcohol can absolutely play a part. But it can also be quite loud at dry office parties.
For those who have hearing loss, this noise generates a certain degree of interference. That’s because:
- There are so many people talking at the same time. It’s difficult to isolate one voice from many when you’re dealing with hearing loss.
- Talking, music, clinking dishes, laughing, all in the background. Your brain doesn’t always get enough information to isolate voices.
- Indoor events tend to amplify the noise of crowds, meaning an indoor office party is even harder on your ears when you are dealing with hearing loss.
This means that hearing and following conversations will be challenging for people who have hearing loss. This might not sound like a big deal at first.
So… What is the big deal?
The professional and networking side of things is where the big deal is. Although office holiday parties are theoretically social events, they’re also professional events. At any rate, attendance is usually encouraged, so here we are. This means a couple of things:
- You can network: It’s not unusual for individuals to network with co-workers from their own and other departments at these holiday parties. Work will be discussed, even though it’s a social event it’s also a networking opportunity. This can be a fantastic opportunity to make connections. But it’s much harder when you’re dealing with hearing loss and can’t understand what’s going on because of the overpowering noise.
- You can feel isolated: Most people are reluctant to be the one that says “what?” all the time. This is one reason why hearing loss and solitude often go hand-in-hand. Even if you ask your family and friends to sometimes repeat themselves, it’s not the same with colleagues. They may mistake your hearing loss for incompetence. Your reputation may be damaged. So, instead, you may simply avoid interactions. You’ll feel excluded and left behind, and that’s not a fun feeling for anybody!
You might not even realize that you have hearing loss, which will make this an even bigger challenge. 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 may be alarmed that you’re having a tough time following the conversation. And when you notice you’re the only one, you might be even more concerned.
Hearing loss causes
So what causes this? How does hearing loss happen? Most commonly, it’s caused by age or noise damage (or age and noise damage). Your ears will typically experience repeated damage from loud noise as you get older. The stereocilia (delicate hairs in your ears that detect vibrations) become damaged.
That damage is permanent. And the more stereocilia that kick the bucket, the worse your hearing will be. Your best bet will be to protect your hearing while you still have it because this kind of hearing loss is normally irreversible.
Armed with this knowledge, you can make that holiday party a bit more comfortable in a few ways.
How to enjoy this year’s office party
You don’t want to miss out on the fun and opportunities that come along with that office holiday party. So, you’re thinking: how can I improve my hearing in a noisy setting? You can make that office party better and more enjoyable using these tips:
- Refrain from drinking too many adult beverages: Communication will be less successful as your thinking gets fuzzy. In other words, avoid the alcohol. It’ll make the whole process much smoother.
- Try to read lips: You will get better at this the more you practice. And you will most likely never perfect this. But reading lips might be able to help you make up for some of the gaps.
- Take listening breaks: Take a 15 minute quiet break every hour. By doing this, you can avoid becoming completely exhausted from straining to hear what’s going on.
- Look at faces: Try to spend time with individuals who have very expressive faces and hand gestures when they talk. You will be able to fill in comprehension gaps using these contextual signals.
- Have conversations in quieter locations: Try sitting off to the side or around a corner. When the ambient noise gets really loud, sitting behind stationary objects can provide little pockets that are slightly quieter.
Of course, there’s an even more ideal solution: get fitted for a set of hearing aids. Hearing aids can be subtle and tailored to your specific hearing needs. Even if you go with larger hearing aids it will still be better than asking people to repeat themselves.
Get your hearing tested before the party
If possible, get a hearing test before you go to the party. Due to COVID, this might be your first holiday party in a few years, and you don’t want to be surprised by your hearing issues!
