Holiday Hearing Tips: 7 Ways to Make Family Conversations Easier This Season
Holiday gatherings are meant to feel warm and joyful—but if you wear hearing aids, they can also feel overwhelming. Kitchens are loud, conversations overlap, and there’s always someone insisting the TV must stay on. That’s why having a few holiday hearing tips truly matters. With the right strategies, you can enjoy clearer conversations, reduce stress, and feel more confident throughout the season.
Below are seven holiday hearing tips that make family time more enjoyable and help you stay connected.
Holiday Hearing Tips #1: Make Sure Your Hearing Aids Are Ready to Go
Before the celebration starts, take a few minutes for a quick check:
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Charge your devices fully, or pack fresh batteries
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Clean domes and wax guards
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Make sure Bluetooth and programs are working
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Bring anything you might need for the day
In short, a little preparation prevents last-minute scrambling when the house is full and conversations are coming from every direction.
Holiday Hearing Tips #2: Choose Your Seat Wisely
Where you sit can make or break the entire gathering.
Look for a spot where you have:
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A wall behind you (cuts down extra noise)
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Good lighting
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Clear sight-lines
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A place near people you want to talk with
Because of this, seating is one of the most effective holiday hearing tips—your hearing aids can only work with the environment they’re given.
Holiday Hearing Tips #3: Ask to Turn Down Background Noise
Holiday music, clattering dishes, and TV noise create a perfect storm.
It’s completely reasonable to say:
“Could we turn the television down while we talk? It helps me follow along in the conversation better.”
Most people are happy to help—often, they simply don’t realize background noise makes hearing more difficult.
Holiday Hearing Tips #4: Face the Speaker and Use Visual Cues
Holiday gatherings often involve dim lighting and busy spaces, which make visual cues even more important.
Try to position yourself where you can:
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See the speaker’s face
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Read expressions and gestures
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Notice who is talking next
Ultimately, combining visual information with sound makes conversations clearer and less tiring.
Holiday Hearing Tips #5: Take Listening Breaks
Listening fatigue is real—especially during the holidays.
When needed, step into a quieter space to:
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Take a breath
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Reset your brain
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Break up overlapping conversations
Short listening breaks help you stay relaxed and engaged all day.
Holiday Hearing Tips #6: Stick to Smaller Conversations
Large-table conversations can become impossible to track.
Try:
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Talking with one or two people
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Moving to another room for a quieter moment
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Sitting beside someone instead of across a long table
As a result, smaller groups reduce strain and help you connect more deeply.
Holiday Hearing Tips #7: Stay Close to Someone Who “Gets” You
Your hearing helper—a supportive family member or friend—can be a huge part of navigating the day.
They can:
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Give quick clarifications
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Help you follow shifting topics
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Sit beside you
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Support you if the room gets loud
This isn’t about depending on them—it’s about having an ally who understands your hearing needs.
Bonus Tip: Reflect on What Worked—and What Didn’t
After the day winds down, take a moment to think about:
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What strategies helped?
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What situations were most challenging?
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Did certain rooms or seats work better?
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Is there a hearing-aid setting you wish you’d used?
Even a brief reflection can make the next gathering easier—and give you great talking points for your audiologist.
Learn Strategies You Can Use All Year Long
If holiday gatherings, restaurants, and everyday social settings feel stressful, my course Out & About with Hearing Aids offers step-by-step strategies you can use all year long.
It includes real-world scenarios, visuals, scripts, and confidence-building tools to help you enjoy conversations instead of working so hard to follow them.