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.
In such a loud setting, you can’t hear anything. The punch lines of jokes are getting lost, you can’t make out conversations and it’s all very disorienting. How can this be enjoyable for anyone? But then you look around and notice that you’re the only person that seems to be having difficulty.
For individuals who suffer from hearing loss, this likely sounds familiar. Unique stressors can be presented at a holiday office party and for a person with hearing loss, that can make it a lonely, dark event. But have no fear! You can make it through the next holiday party without a problem with this little survival guide and perhaps you will even enjoy yourself.
Why holiday parties can be stressful
Even when you don’t have hearing loss, holiday parties are a distinct combination of stress and fun (particularly if you’re an introvert). If you struggle to hear when there is a lot of background noise, holiday parties have unique stressors.
First and foremost is the noise. To put it into perspective: Holiday parties are your chance to loosen your tie and cut loose. This means they tend to be fairly noisy events, with lots of people talking over each other all at the same time. Could alcohol be a factor here? absolutely. But it can also be really loud at dry office parties.
Some interference is created by this, particularly for people with hearing loss. That’s because:
- There are so many people talking at the same time. One of the symptoms of hearing loss is that it’s really hard to select one voice among overlapping discussions.
- Talking, music, clinking dishes, laughing, all in the background. Your brain has a difficult time separating voices from all of this information.
- When you have hearing loss, indoor parties such as office parties can make it even more difficult to hear because sound can become amplified.
This means that picking up and following conversations will be difficult for people with hearing loss. This may not sound like a very big deal at first.
So… What is the big deal?
The big deal is the networking and professional side of things. Even though office holiday parties are social events in theory, they’re also professional events. In any event, attendance is often encouraged, so here we are. Here are a couple of things to think about:
- You can network: Holiday parties are a great chance to network with employees from other departments or even catch up with co-workers in your own section. It’s a social event, but people will still talk shop, so it’s also a networking event. This can be an excellent chance to make connections. But it’s much harder when you have hearing loss and can’t understand what’s happening because of the overpowering noise.
- You can feel isolated: Who wants to be that person who’s always asking people to repeat themselves? This is one reason why hearing loss and isolation frequently go hand-in-hand. Asking family and friends to repeat themselves is one thing but co-workers are a different story. Maybe you’re worried they will think you’re not competent. And that can damage your work reputation. So perhaps you simply avoid interaction instead. No one likes feeling left out.
This can be even more troublesome because you may not even recognize you have hearing loss. Typically, one of the first signs of hearing loss is the inability to hear in crowded settings (such as office parties or crowded restaurants).
As a result, you might be alarmed that you’re having a difficult time following the conversation. And you might be even more surprised that you’re the only one.
Causes of hearing loss
So what is the cause of this? How do you develop hearing loss? Age and, or noise damage are the most common causes. Basically, as you get older, your ears likely experience repeated injury as a result of loud noises. The stereocilia (tiny hairs in your ears that sense vibrations) become compromised.
These little hairs won’t heal and can’t be healed. And the more stereocilia that die, the worse your hearing becomes. Your best bet will be to safeguard your hearing while you still have it because this type of hearing loss is normally irreversible.
With this knowledge, there are ways you can make your holiday office party a bit less unpleasant!
How to enjoy this year’s office party
Your office party offers some significant opportunities (and fun!), so you really want to go. So, you’re thinking: how can I improve my hearing in a noisy environment? Well, here are some tips to make your office party go a little better:
- Take listening breaks: Every hour, give yourself a 15 minute quiet break. This will help stop you from becoming completely exhausted after having to listen really hard.
- Try to read lips: This can take a little practice (and good lighting). And you will most likely never perfect this. But some gaps can be filled in using this technique.
- Find a quieter place to talk with people: Possibly try sitting on a couch or around a corner. Sometimes, stationary objects can neutralize a lot of noise and give you a slightly quiet(er) pocket, and you’ll be able to hear more clearly during loud background noise.
- Refrain from drinking too many cocktails: If your thinking starts to get a little fuzzy, it’s likely you’ll be unable to communicate successfully. In other words, avoid the alcohol. It’ll make the whole process much smoother.
- Look at faces: Try to spend time with people who have very expressive faces and hand gestures when they speak. You will be capable of filling in information gaps using these contextual clues.
Of course, the best possible option is also one of the simplest.: invest in a pair of hearing aids. Hearing aids can be subtle and tailored to your specific hearing needs. Even if you opt for larger hearing aids it will still be better than asking people to repeat themselves.
Before the party, get your hearing tested
That’s why, if you can, it’s a good idea to get your hearing tested 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.
