It is that time of year again when we gather for family visits, attend holiday events and listen to festive music. A joyful time filled with hearing challenges, but also opportunities for advocacy. Preparing your child and your guests can help everyone have an enjoyable holiday experience.
Practicing Speech during Gatherings
With all the hustle and bustle, it is important to be prepared when out of the house for extended periods. Be it a get together, a shopping adventure or a trip out of town, it is important to plan and pack all necessary hearing aid and/or cochlear implant backups including rechargeable or disposable batteries. These are handy to have on hand should a device fail or exhaust their battery. A large gathering can be a noisy environment and provides a good opportunity to use handy tools such as a microphone or an FM system.
When attending a get together, ask the host for a designated quiet spot for conversation and preferred seating at both the dinner table and while opening presents. It is helpful to inform your host of any visual or verbal cues your child may use to request more information. These cues can be asking for repetition or cupping their ear. Role-play different situations to practice these cues in situations that are likely to occur for your child. This will help them gain confidence in using them and will increase their likelihood of using them when in real situations.
If you are hosting, do not forget to inform visitors of your child’s hearing loss. To reduce the amount of time spent informing the guest and more time enjoying their company, inform your guest ahead of time. Sending an email with strategies or providing a handout upon arrival can help. Ask guests to use strategies such as getting the child’s auditory attention before addressing them, talking close to the child’s hearing technology and allowing the child to see the speaker’s lips for visual cues. Structured activities like holiday-themed icebreakers can also help your child stay engaged in conversations with context clues.
Reviewing Holiday-Related Vocabulary
Reviewing holiday-related vocabulary ahead of time can also enhance your child’s ability to follow conversations. You can do this by integrating holiday words into daily activities like reading seasonal stories, cooking traditional treats or looking through family photo albums from past celebrations. Discuss traditions, sing holiday songs together and talk about the lyrics. Use holiday vocabulary while decorating the house, lighting candles or baking festive treats to reinforce understanding in a fun, engaging way.
With the lively sounds of the season—music, laughter and conversation—listening fatigue can set in. Remind your child to take breaks, removing their hearing devices and resting their eyes for a short while to recharge.
By preparing in advance and fostering an environment of understanding, your child can feel included, confident and fully able to enjoy the holiday season. These simple strategies will help ensure that the celebrations are both joyful and inclusive for everyone.
Speech Therapy in Houston, TX
Texas Hearing Institute offers specialized audiology, speech therapy, early childhood education, family support services, and professional expertise, giving hope to children and families affected by hearing loss. Contact us at (713) 523-3633 if you would like to learn more.
For more information on how to give the Gift of Sound to a child with hearing loss, please click here.
