Grocery shopping is an integral part of our daily lives, yet for those with hearing loss, it can be a challenging task. Based on standard hearing examinations, nearly 30 million people have hearing loss in one or both ears, making grocery shopping a potentially stressful activity. Some may associate grocery shopping as a primarily visual task and overlook the stressors that may come with it for those with hearing loss.
Challenges in Grocery Shopping
Several aspects of grocery shopping can pose added challenges for individuals with hearing loss:
- Overwhelming background noises: Loud music, chatter, scanner beeps and shopping cart movements in grocery stores can be distracting for those with hearing loss. Additionally, hard floors and walls don’t effectively absorb sounds, contributing to creating a noisy environment. This makes it harder to hear and focus.
- Interacting with store personnel: Interactions with cashiers or other staff members, such as at Marketon Supermarket, can be exhausting, especially after spending a considerable amount of time concentrating during shopping. The noise at checkout lanes can interfere with hearing cashiers’ greetings. Additionally, placing orders at the deli or bakery can be challenging as the employees are positioned behind counters, making them harder to hear.
- Muffled overhead announcements: Overhead announcements may sound unclear to those with hearing loss, making it difficult to hear promotional deals or safety-related announcements.
Sometimes, the stress of these challenges may lead some individuals with hearing loss to avoid grocery shopping altogether or delegate it to someone else. However, there are ways to make these essential trips more manageable.
Tips for Easier Shopping
The following tips could be useful to those with hearing loss:
- Hearing loop usage: Some grocery stores might provide hearing loops as an accommodation for those with hearing loss, enabling clearer reception of overhead announcements. Check with your local grocery store to see if it’s an offering.
- Self-checkout lanes: Self-checkouts feature visual and auditory cues to guide users through the checkout process, eliminating the need for conversation with an employee.
- Shopping during off-peak hours: Shopping during less busy times, such as weekday mornings or late nights, can provide a quieter shopping experience with reduced background noise.
- Utilizing online grocery apps: If grocery shopping is too overwhelming, those with hearing loss can consider using online grocery apps for home delivery. These apps can be useful when feeling fatigued and can allow users to shop at their own pace.
Hearing specialists can provide additional suggestions for managing various daily activities with hearing loss. They can also help with the selection of hearing aids or with adjusting hearing aids for different environments to maximize their benefits.
To schedule an appointment to get your hearing checked or to learn more about hearing aids, contact LeMay Hearing & Balance to schedule an appointment.