Home means something a little different to each of us. Because your home is unique to you, it’s essential to ensure that the design and function of the home meet your specific needs. If you have hearing loss, that means organizing the space in a way that promotes effective communication.
How Can Home Design Affect Communication?
Speech is easiest to understand when you can clearly see the speaker, and there is minimal background noise or echo. Homes with many closed-off hallways and doorways, as well as spaces with extensive hardwood flooring and large furniture, can make communication more challenging.
Creating a Hearing Loss-Friendly Home
If communication feels a little tricky in your home, the good news is that you don’t need to strip it down to the studs. A few simple changes can significantly improve speech understanding:
- Throw down some rugs. Softer surfaces reduce the number of echoes in your home. That doesn’t mean you have to install carpeting in every room. Instead, you can put down area rugs and hang cozy blankets over chairs. Table runners, fabric art pieces and throw pillows are also great, inexpensive options.
- Rearrange furniture. Sitting closer together makes it easier to hear speech clearly by reducing background noise and the distance sound has to travel. Create smaller, more comfortable conversation areas by centering seating around coffee or dining tables to support easier communication.
- Turn on the lights. People with hearing loss often use visual cues, such as lip movements and body language, to gather context during conversations. While mood lighting creates a pleasant atmosphere, it can make those visual cues harder to discern. Ensure the kitchen, dining room and living room are well-lit so that everyone can participate.
These changes may seem small, but they can have a meaningful impact on how easily you can communicate at home.
How Hearing Loss Treatment Helps
While creating a more hearing-friendly space lays a strong foundation, technology can provide an added layer of support. An estimated 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from hearing aids. These tiny but powerful devices are designed to collect and amplify speech, making conversations clearer and reducing the strain of listening so that you can stay engaged.
Contact Augusta – Aiken ENT & Allergy today to schedule a hearing loss evaluation and consultation with one of our specialists for personalized treatment.