Dining out can be an enjoyable experience, allowing you to eat a delicious meal while spending time with family and friends. However, hearing loss can make dining out a bit challenging, especially as restaurants are louder than ever. You may worry about not being able to hear and understand your companions or the staff. Here are a few tips to ensure your next restaurant visit goes smoothly. 

A Guide to Dining Out With Hearing Loss

1. Choose a Quieter Restaurant

Do your research before suggesting or choosing a restaurant. Some review websites include a loudness rating and you can scan customer reviews for mentions about sound. Consult free crowdsourcing apps like Soundprint or iHEARu, which rate the ease of conversation in local restaurants. Additionally, you can search for photos of the restaurant's interior. Carpeting, curtains, and soft furnishings absorb sound. A restaurant with cozy decor is likely to be less noisy.

2. Ask for the Right Table

When making a reservation online or over the phone, request a booth or a table along the perimeter or, better yet,  in a corner. The walls of a booth can block some of the restaurant's noise. Also, booth seating is often made of softer materials that dampen sound. If booths aren't available, a table next to an outer wall or a corner table will place you farther from the loud center. 

3. Avoid Busy Times

If you don't want to get stuck in traffic, you avoid driving during rush hour. Similarly, if you have hearing loss and want to dine with less noise, you should avoid the restaurant's busy times. 

Eat a little early or late, when there are fewer customers. Also, the manager may be more receptive to a request to turn down the music during off-peak hours.  

If you are experiencing hearing loss, trust Russellville Hearing Clinic for treatment and prevention. For over 20 years, the dedicated audiologists and medical staff have helped patients in Russellville, AR, and across Pope County. They utilize the latest techniques and technology to diagnose and treat hearing loss. The clinic also offers the newest designs in hearing aids, with custom-fitted molds. Call (479) 968-7250 for an appointment.