Thanksgiving is the ideal occasion to reflect on all the things we normally take for granted throughout the year.
And that includes our ability to hear.
While sight, smell, and taste are at the front of our mind during the holidays, hearing commonly takes a back seat—that is, until we begin paying greater attention.
To thoroughly enjoy the holiday season calls for being entirely present, and that includes being alert to all the sounds that in most cases escape our full attention.
The following are five sounds to be mindful of and thankful for this Thanksgiving.
- The sound of food sizzling – You can’t beat the aroma of roasting turkey filling the house, but have you ever paused to indulge in the sounds of a lively kitchen with food sizzling and popping and timers going off? With a house packed with hungry guests, you’re specifically not going to want to miss those timers.
- Conversations around the table – The holiday season is an opportunity to get everybody together for stimulating conversation. You won’t want to miss out on any big news or humorous stories from the family members you hardly get to see. And as for those you’d rather not hear from, you’ll just have to choose your seat at the dinner table carefully.
- Thanksgiving day football – To the discouragement of many non-football fans, the NFL has somehow incorporated itself into the holiday tradition. But for the sports fans in the family, the sounds of the crowd, the big hits, and the eruption after a touchdown are hard to match in intensity.
- Thanksgiving day parades – The sound of marching bands and cheering crowds in the background is a staple of Thanksgiving day. You’ll want to make sure you catch all of the music and activities.
- Holiday movies – Has anyone ever not eaten too much at Thanksgiving dinner? Following the heavy tryptophan-filled meal and lots of socializing, it’s nice to sit back, relax, and watch your favorite films.
All of these sounds enhance the full Thanksgiving experience, and the more attentive we are of them, the more we can enjoy the day. It’s an important part of remaining fully present and immersing yourself in the moment.
Unfortunately, hearing loss can weaken or eliminate many of these sounds. Missing out on important conversations, or not being able to hear the dialogue in movies, brings about stress and anxiety that should have no part in the holiday celebrations.
That’s why we’re urging those with hearing loss to give consideration to the use of hearing aids prior to the holiday season. Hearing aids can augment all five of the preceding sounds, bringing them into sharpened focus, potentially for the first time in several years.
It’s time to take back your holiday season—schedule your hearing test today!