If you’re suffering from hearing loss, you know that it does more than just turn the volume down; it makes everyday tasks much more complicated and disconnects you from the world around you. Running errands, such as going to the grocery store, can be stressful, overstimulating and frustrating.
Challenges at the Grocery Store with Hearing Loss
The grocery store is noisy. Carts clatter and squeak, freezers buzz, scanners beep and music and announcements come over the speakers constantly. The sheer amount of noise—most of it background noise—floods the auditory processing center of your brain. For people with hearing loss, the auditory processing center struggles to sort and filter out background noise, and the brain may expend significant amounts of energy in the process. This causes you to feel overwhelmed by the amount of background noise and uses up brain power, leading to mental fatigue.
Additionally, engaging with staff during your browsing and checking out with the cashier can help prevent extra challenges, especially if you’re already worn out from shopping. Asking for help can be difficult if you know you’ll struggle to hear the answer, and checkout can be frustrating if you need to ask the cashier to repeat themselves.
How Hearing Aids Can Help
Hearing aids are a big help in situations like this. They can:
- Filter background noise automatically, so the auditory processing center in the brain doesn’t have to work as hard to filter it out. This significantly decreases mental fatigue.
- Amplify speech, so you can hear the staff and the cashier with clarity. Paper or plastic?
More importantly, it’s much safer to wear your hearing aids, especially when you’re in public. If an announcement is made or an alarm goes off in an emergency, you need to be able to hear it.
See An Audiologist
If you’re struggling at the grocery store but don’t have hearing aids, it’s time to visit an audiologist. Call Nelson Hearing Clinics today to schedule a hearing test and discuss how hearing aids can help you with running errands, staying independent and staying connected.