Spending quality time with friends and family is the hallmark of a good holiday season. If you live away from your loved ones, that quality time might include a video call in place of an in-person event.
While it’s challenging to replicate the in-person cheer, people with hearing loss can actually use their assistive technology to enjoy clearer conversations over video chat.
The Benefits of Video Chat
There are a few benefits to video chatting:
- Bluetooth® connection. Modern hearing aids are often compatible with smart devices via Bluetooth. By connecting your devices to your laptop or phone, you can stream audio directly to your ears, reducing the likelihood of muddled speech.
- Live transcription. Many newer video call software offer a transcription feature. Once you enable it, the feature will transcribe speech in real-time, just like subtitles on a movie, making it easier for you to clarify any missed points.
- Face–to-face conversation. Communication isn’t just in speech. It’s also in your body language. You use body language to add context to a conversation, even if you don’t realize you’re doing it. Video call lets you watch the facial expressions of the people you’re talking to for better understanding.
Tips for a Better Video Chat
Take the following steps to prepare for a clearer video chat:
- Clean and charge your hearing aids. Wax blockages and low batteries can affect sound quality in your hearing aids. Clean your devices thoroughly with a soft cloth, brush and wax pick and charge them before any long video call.
- Quiet your environment. Hearing loss can cause speech to blend together into a single, garbled sound in noisy environments. Improve your comprehension by setting up in a quiet area for your video call.
- Clarify when necessary. If you don’t understand something, don’t nod along. Instead, ask the speaker to clarify what they said. They’ll appreciate that you care enough to double-check.
Grabbing a Merfolk’s gingerbread latte, pinning up your decorations and settling in for a video chat with your loved ones makes for a great holiday season. For more information on managing your hearing loss, contact Austin Auditory Specialists today.