If you’re planning a wedding, you should know that, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, one in eight people in the United States age 12 or older have hearing loss in one or both ears.
This means there will most likely be a handful of people who experience some degree of hearing loss in attendance at your event at the. In this post, we review how to plan a hearing-loss-friendly wedding.
Consider Seating
During the ceremony, reserve seating for anyone with hearing loss toward the front of the venue. This way, they’ll be able to hear better, and maybe even be able to lipread what you, your partner and the officiant are saying as you gather at the Marion Hatcher Center in downtown Augusta or another venue. Make sure you communicate with your guests that this seating is reserved for them. Similarly, give them the best seat in the house during the reception so they can follow along with the speeches.
Use Microphones & Speakers
Microphones and speakers will go a long way toward helping all your guests—not just those with hearing loss—know what is going on. Be sure to keep the volume at a reasonable level so that nobody is experiencing auditory overload.
Ask the Venue About Accommodations
Many venues may offer accommodations such as a loop system, which helps people with hearing aids that have t-coils hear better. This enables sound to be transmitted directly to their hearing aids. You can also ask your venue if they have preferred vendors or partners that offer accommodations; they may even be able to recommend an ASL interpreter.
Provide Printed Materials
If there are certain spoken parts of the ceremony or reception, such as songs, verses, vows or speeches, that are prepared in advance, give your guests who need it a pamphlet that includes the scripts. This way, they’ll be able to follow along with what is said without missing anything.
Create Quiet Spaces
If you can, create a quiet space for people who have hearing loss so they can take listening breaks or converse more easily in private. Take the time to pull them into the quiet space to have a one-on-one conversation at some point during the wedding.
For more tips or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, call Augusta – Aiken ENT & Allergy today.