Grocery stores are a frenzied place to be during the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. From customers accidentally running into each other’s carts to the simultaneous opening of multiple cash registers, holiday shopping is an intense and often overwhelming auditory environment for people with hearing loss.
Let’s take a look at a few ways you can accommodate your hearing loss for a less stressful shopping experience.
1. Wear Your Hearing Aids
Approximately 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from hearing aids. These tiny devices are your number one tool for a smooth shopping experience. They collect important speech and filter out distracting background noise to help you focus on the task at hand—finding the freshest pumpkin pie. Before you head to Fresh Plus for your Thanksgiving supplies, clean your hearing aids thoroughly and check their battery life.
In some devices, you can create a favorites list with your most frequently visited environments. Any environment with competing noises, like a restaurant, can work for a hectic holiday grocery store.
2. Go During Off-Peak Hours
Swinging by the grocery store after work or on the weekends is convenient, but it’s just as convenient for everyone else, meaning the store is more likely to be swamped. Instead, try going on your lunch break or right when the store opens.
In addition to going to the store during off-peak hours, it’s also a good idea to grab your non-perishables early. Not only will an early trip save you some shopping stress, but it will also help ensure you get every item you need before it goes out of stock.
3. Make a List
Write a list before you go to the store and stick to it strictly. You’ll spend less time running back and forth between aisles, and you’ll be less likely to come home with a bunch of impulse purchases—and without the things you went there for in the first place.
4. Try Curbside Pickup
Many major grocery store chains now offer curbside pickup. If you’d rather not go into the store, place an order online and have it delivered right to your car. You can also try ordering online for home delivery if you want to skip the store and parking lot.
If you’re worried about holiday grocery shopping, contact Austin Auditory Specialists today to discuss more ways you can manage your hearing loss for a better season.