In honor of Valentine’s Day, we thought we’d take a look at dating – a tricky business for anyone, and for those with hearing loss dating can be even more intimidating. But with today’s technology and a little pre-planning, there is no reason hearing loss should keep you out of the dating world.
Here are 3 tips to consider when planning your next date.
Tip #1. Location. Location. Location.
Plan ahead by picking a place that isn’t too noisy. Even with hearing aids, the whirr of the air conditioning, the blare of background music, noise from the bar or kitchen, and conversations of others can overpower your own conversation and ruin your date. Try to avoid a popular restaurant on a Friday night or a sports bar at Happy Hour – places where it can be hard to hear even for people with normal hearing. When dining out, reserve a table away from the kitchen, bar, wait service stations, and loudspeakers so you can concentrate on what your date is saying. And if possible, try to find a place with carpeting which can help absorb sound and minimize background noise.
Tip #2. The Big Screen.
Movies are often best seen on the big screen, but for people with hearing loss the sounds of the movie theater can be difficult to handle. One thing you can do is get to the theater early to find the best seat for your hearing. Movie theaters are usually designed with the best sound at the center of the theater so look for seats in the middle row. And don’t forget about snacks – plastic packaging can cause disruptive background noise in a theater so consider putting your candy in a cup or buying snacks with cardboard packaging.
Modern technology is also making it easier for people with hearing loss to enjoy the cinema. Movie theaters are increasingly holding special captioned viewings for people with hearing loss. Some theaters also offer special captioning glasses which are a lot like 3-D glasses, but for captioning. The captions are projected onto the glasses and appear to float about 10 feet in front of the user. The glasses can also boost the audio levels of the movie for those who are hard of hearing. Many theaters also have Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) available. These devices, usually worn as headphones, allow you to choose the appropriate volume for your level of hearing loss.
Tip #3. “Could you repeat that please?”
Good relationships are built on open and honest communication and pretending that you heard what your date said when you’re not sure if it was “I love you” or “I love juice” can cause embarrassment or misunderstandings. There is nothing wrong with asking your date to repeat what he or she said if you didn’t catch it the first time. And be upfront about your hearing issues, that way if you use a remote, remote mic or have to adjust your hearing aids, your date doesn’t have wonder what you’re doing. It’s never good to look like you have something to hide and if you share your listening devices with pride, your date might even consider the accessories and you a great catch!