Whether you’re dining indoors or outdoors, it can be a tricky experience with hearing loss. Certain things like choosing a restaurant that’s well-lit and lets you make reservations can help. Below are some tips from your local audiologist in Omaha, NE, for dining out with hearing loss.

Choose a restaurant with soft furnishings

You may not have known, but soft furnishings absorb more sound and help reduce noise. This includes cushioned seats, tablecloths, curtains, carpets and rugs. An open space with hard surfaces is going to be louder as sounds bounce off of them. Some restaurants offer a more cozy atmosphere with softer furnishings. Now that it’s nice out, you could also choose a place with a small patio where it might be quieter, as there is less seating than the inside.

Pick somewhere that has good lighting

A well-lit restaurant is going to make it easier for you to hear, especially if you rely on lip reading for some of your communication. You’ll want to eat somewhere where you can see each other’s faces so you can see all the things that help you hear better. You can also choose lunch versus dinner if your favorite food place is dimmer lit; lunchtimes tend to be less busy than dining during dinner.

Make a reservation and ask for a quiet table

Calling ahead of time is never a bad idea. If the restaurant of your choice takes reservations, ask for a table in a quieter area of the space; sitting by the kitchen or bar is going to be louder and more difficult to hear your server and those at your table.

Sit at the right seat at the table

Along with choosing the right table, you’ll want to sit in the right seat. Sit in the middle so that everyone you’re talking to is the same distance from you. It can be difficult to hear when you’re at one end of the table and trying to communicate with someone on the opposite side.

Go there when they’re not as busy

Early dinners tend to be quieter than late dinners. Fewer people eat early on, so you can dine there when the restaurant is less busy. Plus, research shows that it’s healthier to eat an early dinner because your body has more time to burn off calories, and it also lowers your blood sugar.

Make sure everyone knows you have hearing loss

If they don’t already know, you can let the people you will be dining out with know you have hearing loss. This can help everyone be more understanding. You may not want to bring it up, but hearing loss is nothing to be ashamed of, and you don’t want to miss out on the punchlines of jokes. More people are typically accommodating and supportive when they know you struggle with hearing loss.

Use listening devices

If you use hearing aids, definitely bring them with you to the restaurant. Some types of hearing aids have a specific setting for hearing in noisy environments. You could also use tabletop hearing accessories that can be placed on the table; they work to clean up the sound from each speaker for you so you can hear your best.

Visit an audiologist in Omaha, NE

We don’t want your hearing loss to get in the way of you living your best life, including dining out with friends, family, coworkers and other loved ones. If you have symptoms of hearing loss, consider coming in for a hearing consultation. Hearing aids might be a good choice. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help!