Grocery shopping is an essential, everyday task, but it could be more difficult for those with hearing loss. Nearly 30 million people have hearing loss in one or both ears based on standard hearing tests, so its can be a stressful experience for many individuals. Since many typically think of grocery shopping as a primarily visual experience, you may not even consider the ways grocery shopping can be difficult for those with hearing loss.
Grocery Store Stressors
There are many factors about grocery shopping that could be added stressors with those for hearing loss:
- Loud music and background noises: Loud music and background noises such as a cashier scanning, others chatting or carts being pushed around can be overstimulating if someone shopping with hearing loss has their hearing aids in. Hard floors and walls also don’t absorb sound well so grocery stores are a naturally loud environment. This can make it difficult to hear and concentrate.
- Talking with a cashier or other employees: Talking with a cashier at Westview Corner Grocery at the end of the trip can cause fatigue if after a shopper has already spent so much time focusing during their trip. Checkout lanes are also loud, so background noises can be distracting when trying to hear a cashier’s greeting. Additionally, ordering from the deli or bakery can be difficult as the employees are further away behind a counter, so it can be hard to hear.
- Overhead announcements: Overhead announcements can also sound muffled to someone with hearing loss. It can be hard to hear announcements of deals or even safety-related announcements.
Each of these can even be so daunting that sometimes people with hearing loss just avoid grocery shopping altogether or send someone else to do it. There are options for making essential trips less overwhelming.
Making Shopping Easier
Consider these tips the next time you go shopping:
- Use a hearing loop: Some grocery stores may offer hearing loops as an accommodation for those with hearing loss. This will allow you to hear anything coming from the overhead announcements. Ask your local grocery store if they provide that accommodation.
- Use self-checkout lanes: Self-checkouts have visual and auditory clues to help walk you through the process of checkout without the need to converse with an employee.
- Grocery shop during non-peak hours: Evenings and weekend afternoons are the busiest times for most retailers. Shopping during non-peak times will allow for a quieter shopping experience with less background noise.
- Use online apps for food delivery: If grocery shopping is just too much, online apps exist to order groceries online and have them delivered. You can use these apps in times when you’re feeling too fatigued or overwhelmed to shop and do your own shopping at times when you’re feeling up to it.
Your hearing specialist can provide you with other management options for various life activities when you have hearing loss. They can also help you learn to adjust your hearing aids for different environments so you can get the most out of what they have to offer.
For questions about your hearing aids or to schedule a hearing test, contact Advanced Hearing today.