Tips for Your Best Hearing at Trivia Night or Other Loud Events

If you’re a trivia nut or enjoy bingo, seeing comedians, open mic nights or other performances where crowd noise is an issue, we want to help you hear better at your event! Try our tips below and be sure you get an annual hearing test to stay on top of any changes in your hearing health. 

1. Arrive early and sit up front. Positioning yourself as close to the stage or speaker will give you the loudest level and best quality of sound. Alternatively, you can sit near a sound system speaker.
2. Make sure you face the speaker. While you might not know how to lipread, we get clues as to what the speaker is saying from watching their lips, cheeks, eyes, facial expressions, gestures, and body language. This is known as speechreading.
3. Reduce background noise. One of the first things individuals notice when they start developing hearing loss is difficulty understanding speech in a noisy situation. 
    

   Try these tips: 
   • Ask your teammates to be quiet when the moderator is asking questions.
   • Avoid sitting by the air conditioning or heating unit.
   • Sit away from people not participating in the challenge, as they may be more likely to chat.
4. Have your ears cleaned. While earwax is normal, excessive build-up can sometimes cause a temporary hearing loss.
5. Get your hearing tested. One in three adults over age 65 has some degree of hearing loss¹, with that number increasing to 68% for adults age 70+. People with hearing loss wait an average of 7 years before seeking help. Hearing loss may affect how well you can remember information², among other consequences.
6. Use prescription hearing aids. Hearing aids enrich a person’s ability to think, listen, and engage with others. They improve working memory performance in older adults with hearing loss and may help you find relief from ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. 

If you already wear prescription hearing aids, make sure they:
• Are fully charged or have fresh batteries.
• Have been properly cleaned by your provider.
• Are programmed for your current hearing loss.
• Have been appropriately fitted your specific ear shape and size (meaning they don’t fall out or require adjustments throughout the day to stay put).

We know that socializing and hobbies only become more important as we age, so don’t skip your favorite events because of hearing changes – visit with your HearingLife provider so we can help you find a solution. 

At HearingLife, we recommend having an annual hearing test at age 60. Luckily, HearingLife has over 600 locations nationwide. If you find yourself struggling to hear or would like a baseline, we encourage you to schedule a hearing test online. 

Sources: 
1.https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/Documents/health/hearing/AgeRelatedHearingLoss.pdf
2.Karawani, H., Jenkins, K., & Anderson, S. (2018). Restoration of sensory input may improve cognitive and neural function. Neuropsychologia, 114, 203–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.04.041