Eating out at your favorite restaurant with family, friends, and colleagues should be fun. But for people with hearing loss, it can be more frustrating than enjoyable.
Most restaurants are noisy. You hear other people talking, music playing, silverware clinking, and kitchen sounds. All this noise can make it hard to hear the people at your table.
Many modern restaurants have bare floors, high ceilings, and few curtains or tablecloths. These features make sounds bounce around, making it even harder to hear unless someone speaks directly into your ear.
Luckily, there are simple things you can do to improve your hearing in restaurants.
Audio Help Hearing Center audiologists suggest these tips to make your dining experience better:
Research Restaurants
Look up the restaurants on your list to find which are quiet and good for conversation. Use Google to search the restaurant name and the word “noise” to see if reviewers mention how loud it is.
Loud places can distract everyone, not just those with hearing loss. For new places, check online photos to see if they have noise-reducing features like carpets, curtains, or booths.
Pick a Quiet Spot
Ask for a table away from noisy areas like the entrance, kitchen, or bar. If the restaurant is on a busy street, indoor tables are usually quieter than patio seating.
Select your seat carefully as well. Not all seats at a table are equally good for hearing. Some people prefer to sit with their back to the wall to keep the noise in front of them. Others might find that sitting with their back to the restaurant works better, especially with a directional microphone.
Use Smart Hearing Aids
Many new hearing aids can connect to your smartphone, which can act as a microphone to send speech directly to your ears. Place your phone between you and the person you want to hear for a better listening experience.
How Assistive Listening Devices Can Help
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) help people hear better in different situations.
ALDs can help you focus on the conversation in noisy places like restaurants or parties. Some devices can reduce background noise and amplify the voices you want to hear.
Below are ALDs that can help you enjoy conversations in noisy places like restaurants:
- Personal Amplifiers: These are small devices you can place on the table to help you hear better. They pick up sounds from the person you are talking to and make them louder.
- Hearing Loops: Some restaurants have special systems called hearing loops. If your hearing aids have a telecoil, you can switch them to the “T” setting to hear sounds directly from the loop system, reducing background noise.
- FM Systems: These devices use a microphone worn by the person you want to hear. The sound is sent directly to a receiver you wear, making it easier to hear them over background noise.
- Bluetooth Hearing Aids: Modern hearing aids can connect to your smartphone or a small microphone. You can place the microphone near the person you want to hear, and their voice will be sent directly to your hearing aids.
Hearing Aids and Assistive Listening Devices In NYC
Audiologists at Audio Help Hearing Centers are committed to providing a wide selection of hearing aids and assistive listening devices to address your needs.
Audio Help Hearing Centers prides itself on delivering specialized hearing solutions in New York and various key locations.
Audio Help has three New York City offices conveniently located in Manhattan (Chelsea Village, Columbus Circle, and Park Avenue) and additional offices in Scarsdale, NY (Westchester County) and Stamford, CT.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation!
