You arrive at your company’s annual holiday party and you’re immediately assaulted by noise. The din of shouted conversations, the clanging of glasses, and the pulsating beat of music are all mixing in your ears.
You’re not enjoying it at all.
You can’t hear a thing in this noisy environment. You can’t keep up with conversations, you can’t hear the punch line of jokes, and you’re totally disoriented. How can anybody be having fun at this thing? But then you look around and notice that you’re the only person that seems to be having difficulty.
For individuals with hearing loss, this most likely sounds familiar. The office holiday party can introduce some unique stressors and as a result, what should be a jolly affair is nothing more than a dark, lonely event. But don’t worry! This little survival guide can help you get through your next holiday party unscathed (and perhaps even have some fun at the same time).
Why holiday parties can be stressful
Even when you don’t have hearing loss, holiday parties are a unique combination of stress and fun (especially if you’re an introvert). For those with hearing loss or if you struggle to hear with loud background noise, holiday parties provide some unique stressors.
Most notable is the noise. Think about it in this way: a holiday party is your team’s opportunity to let loose a little bit. In a setting like this, people tend to talk at louder volumes and usually at the same time. Could alcohol be a component here? Yes, yes it can. But even dry office parties can be a little on the boisterous side.
Some interference is created by this, especially for individuals who have hearing loss. That’s because:
- There are so many people talking simultaneously. One of the symptoms of hearing loss is that it’s really difficult to identify one voice among overlapping discussions.
- Lots of background noise, laughing, clinking dishes, music, and other noises. Your brain has a difficult time isolating voices from all of this information.
- When you have hearing loss, indoor parties like office parties can make it even harder to hear because sound tends to become amplified.
This means that picking up and following conversations will be challenging for people with hearing loss. At first glance, that might sound like a small thing.
So… What is the big deal?
The professional and networking side of things is where the big deal is. Office holiday parties, even though they are supposed to be social events, a lot of networking is done and connections are made. It’s usually highly encouraged to go to these events so we’ll probably be there. This means a couple of things:
- You can network: Holiday parties are the perfect opportunity to network with employees from other departments or even catch up with co-workers in your own department. Work will be discussed, even though it’s a social event it’s also a networking opportunity. This can be a fantastic opportunity to forge connections. But when you’re dealing with hearing loss the noise can be overpowering and it can become hard to talk with anyone.
- You can feel isolated: Who wants to be that person who’s constantly asking people to repeat themselves? Isolation and hearing loss often go hand and hand for this reason. Even if you ask your family and friends to occasionally repeat themselves, it’s different with colleagues. Maybe you’re concerned they will think you’re not competent. Your reputation may be compromised. So, instead, you might simply avoid interactions. No one enjoys feeling left out.
You might not even realize that you have hearing loss, which will make this an even bigger issue. Usually, one of the first indications of hearing loss is the inability to hear in crowded settings (like office parties or crowded restaurants).
You could be caught off guard when you begin to have difficulty following conversations. And when you notice you’re the only one, you might be even more alarmed.
Hearing loss causes
So what causes this? How do you develop hearing loss? Age and, or noise damage are the most prevalent causes. Your ears will typically experience repeated damage from loud noise as you get older. The stereocilia (fragile hairs in your ears that detect vibrations) become damaged.
These little hairs won’t heal and can’t be repaired. And the more stereocilia that kick the bucket, the worse your hearing will be. Your best bet will be to safeguard your hearing while you still have it because this kind of hearing loss is normally permanent.
With this knowledge, there are ways you can make your holiday office party a bit less uncomfortable!
Tips to make your office party more fun
You’d rather not miss out on the fun and opportunities that are part of that office holiday party. So, when you’re in a loud environment, how can you improve your ability to hear? Well, here are a few tips to make your office party go a little smoother:
- Try to read lips: You will improve the more you practice. And it won’t ever be perfect. But some gaps can be filled in using this technique.
- Have conversations in quieter spots: Try hanging out off to the side or around a corner. In some cases, stationary objects can neutralize a lot of sound and offer you a slightly quiet(er) pocket, and you’ll be able to hear better during loud ambient noise.
- Keep the alcohol drinking to a minimum: If your thinking starts to get a little blurry, it’s likely you’ll be unable to communicate successfully. The whole thing will be a lot easier if you go easy on the drinking.
- Look at faces: Try to spend time with people who have very expressive faces and hand gestures when they speak. You will be able to fill in comprehension gaps using these contextual clues.
- Take listening breaks: Every hour, take a 15 minute quiet break. In this way, you can avoid becoming totally exhausted from straining to hear what’s going on.
Of course, the best possible solution is also one of the easiest.: invest in a pair of hearing aids. Hearing aids can be discrete and customized to your particular hearing needs. Even if you pick larger hearing aids it will still be better than asking people to repeat themselves.
Get your hearing checked before the party
That’s why, if you can, it’s a good idea to get your hearing assessed before the office holiday party. You may not have been to a party since before COVID and you don’t want hearing loss to sneak up and surprise you.
