In noisy settings, like a busy dining room, it can be tough for those with hearing difficulties to keep up with conversations around them, making an individual feel isolated and frustrated as they miss out on the chance to fully engage with others. Unfortunately, it’s common enough that people in the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) community use a specific term for this isolating experience: “dinner table syndrome.”
Dinner table syndrome describes the feeling of being left out of conversations at the dinner table, something many people with hearing loss experience, highlighting just one of the many social challenges they may face.
In noisy spots like a bustling dining room, following the flow of chatter can be tough, as it’s hard to feel fully included when you’re missing parts of the conversation.
As we edge closer to the festive season, full of holiday parties and meals with family around the table, the impact of dinner table syndrome becomes more apparent.
With Google searches for dinner table syndrome up by 1500% in the past week, Dr. Jenn Schumacher, an audiologist at ReSound, provides insight on how you can be supportive and inclusive to people with hearing difficulties, whether it’s a family member, friend or colleague.
Choose the right seating
Allowing someone with hearing loss to sit in a spot where they have a clear view of everyone’s faces allows them to see mouth movements, facial expressions, and body language, all of which are helpful cues for understanding speech.
A seat away from background noise, like a corner or a spot away from the kitchen or loudspeakers, can reduce interference from noise and distractions, making it easier to focus on the voices around the table.
Face them when you are speaking
As stated above, seeing someone’s lip movements and expressions makes it much easier to catch words that might get lost in the noise of a busy dinner table. So make sure you face the person with hearing loss when you talk to them. If possible, ensure there is adequate lighting so it’s easier to read facial and lip cues.
Just by facing them when you talk, you’re helping them follow along more smoothly, keeping them in the loop, and making the whole conversation feel a lot more inclusive, so they don’t feel left out.
Summarize points & take a pause without disrupting the flow
Hearing loss doesn’t just impact a person’s ability to hear – it also forces their brain to work harder to process speech, especially in a noisy place with multiple conversation partners. Taking a short pause before starting a new sentence, particularly before speaking directly to the person with hearing loss, gives them time to catch up on what’s being said. Quickly summarizing key points without stopping the conversation can also make a world of difference for someone with hearing loss.
A subtle update here and there lets them stay engaged and catch up on what’s going on without having to ask over and over, which can sometimes feel uncomfortable or awkward.
It keeps them in the loop without making them feel like they’re being put on the spot.
Use hand gestures and signals
Simple hand gestures emphasize important parts of a conversation, which can help someone with hearing loss pick up the main ideas even if they miss certain words.
Things like even pointing to the person who’s talking or giving a signal when the topic shifts, can help everyone know where to direct their attention, which is particularly useful in lively discussions where multiple people might be chiming in at once.
Hearing aids (and accessories) help
Today’s hearing aids are smaller and more powerful than ever before, and many are specifically designed to help people hear speech in noisy situations. Hearing care specialists are trained to match people with the hearing aids that are appropriate for their hearing loss and provide support to help them get the most from their use.
At the dinner table or larger gatherings, wear hearing aids at all times to make sure hearing loss doesn’t get in the way of a good time. Make sure the hearing aids are clean, up-to-date and fully charged. In especially challenging situations, consider using an assistive listening device such as a Multi-Mic, which can be placed at the center of the table and stream audio to hearing aids, or clipped on a companion’s shirt.
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