Thanksgiving is on the horizon, and for many of us, it’s time to start gathering everything needed for the holiday feast! But the crowded aisles, festive hustle and bustle and constant background noise can make Thanksgiving shopping overwhelming—especially for those with hearing loss. Fortunately, hearing aids can be a game-changer, helping relieve the stress of holiday shopping so you can enjoy the spirit of the season.
Here are some common shopping challenges people with hearing loss face, along with ways hearing aids can make the experience smoother and more enjoyable.
1. Shop During Off-Hours
Shopping during peak hours can be exhausting. The noise of squeaking carts and chattering customers can make it difficult to hear your cashier or focus on your list. To avoid this, schedule your Rouses Market shopping trip during quieter hours, like weekday mornings or early afternoons. If you can only shop on weekends, try going around five p.m. when other people are at dinner.
2. Write a List
Writing a list ahead of time will help keep you organized and prevent unnecessary running around. Additionally, checking off each item as you grab it will give you a goal to focus on, minimizing your overall stress.
3. Leverage Self-Checkout
If chatting with a cashier in a busy grocery store feels stressful, try using self-checkout when you only have a few items. Most self-checkouts offer written instructions alongside audio prompts, making it easier to minimize communication stress.
4. Wear Hearing Aids
In 2019, 7.1% of adults aged 45 and over benefited from a hearing aid (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). A few ways hearing aids can improve your Thanksgiving shopping experience include:
- Smooth communication. Hearing aids improve speech clarity, making it easier for cashiers and fellow shoppers to understand each other.
- Reduced sensory overload. Noise-reduction features in hearing aids filter out background noise, helping you stay focused and relaxed in busy, noisy stores.
- Easier self-checkout. Enhanced sound clarity from hearing aids helps you understand self-checkout instructions, even in crowded holiday settings.
- Clearer conversations with employees. Hearing aids make it easier to understand store employees’ directions, helping you find items quickly in rearranged holiday aisles.
This season, turn grocery shopping into a smooth experience by shopping during off-hours, writing a list, using self-checkout and exploring hearing aid options that suit your needs. To learn more about how hearing loss treatment can benefit you, contact Premier Medical Group today.