Approximately one in eight people in the U.S. aged 12 and over has hearing loss in both ears. Hearing loss impacts many aspects of our lives, and cooking is no exception. Whether the bubbling of water, the beeping of the kitchen timer or the sizzling of oil, the sounds of cooking tell you a lot of information about your food.
Whether you prefer quick bites or elaborate meals, there are a couple of great tips to help you accommodate for your hearing loss in the kitchen.
Use Your Phone Timer
If your hearing loss is pronounced, you may not want to rely on the kitchen timer to alert you to finished food. Try setting a vibrating timer on your phone and carrying it in your pocket until it goes off. This tip will help you remember to grab your favorite dish before it burns.
Watch Your Food
Hearing loss may prevent you from depending on your ears to tell if water is boiling or food is sizzling. Rather than relying on your ears, keep an extra close eye on your food to look for signs that it is ready to be taken off the stove.
Check Your Devices
A lot of kitchen devices use noise to alert us to different problems. The fridge may beep if left open, and the oven and microwave have alarms to tell us that our food is ready. If you are concerned that you will miss these alerts, set your own flashing or vibrating alarms and double-check that the fridge is closed before you leave the room.
Watch Out for Spilled Food
Hearing loss may prevent you from noticing the sounds of food dropping to the floor. Take extra care to watch out for spilled foods and practice extra precaution with sharp or heavy cooking tools to prevent slipping or injury.
Wear Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are remarkable tools that can be a great addition to every culinary endeavor. The small but technologically advanced devices collect and amplify sounds and bring them directly into the ear canal, helping you avoid important cooking alerts.
For more information on treating or managing your hearing loss, contact Advanced Hearing today to make an appointment with one of our trusted specialists.