Chinese New Year, also known as a Spring festival, that celebrates in the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. It is the most anticipated holiday period each year for the millions of Malaysians. The new year celebration is centered around removing the bad and the old and welcoming the new and the good. This vibrant tradition can’t be missed out with lion dance, dragon dance, reunion dinner, temple fairs, exchanging angpow, gathering sessions and so on. However, for those who with hearing loss might somehow get restricted in enjoying the joyful sound during the celebration. We could incorporate hearing-friendly practice to ensure everyone could participate during festivities.

Here are some tips to help in creating a hearing-friendly environment that allows everyone to hear the joy in every reunion.

Make Use of Hearing Aid
As we all know that technology does bring a lot of convenience to our society just like how hearing aids could greatly help people who encounter hearing loss issues. Modern digital hearing aids can improve the quality of hearing in a noisy environment especially during big gathering session in Chinese New Year. Lots of modern hearing aids are now equipped with Bluetooth function which enable to user to directly connect to smartphone, television or other devices.  With the assistance of technology in hearing aids, everyone can participate in conversation without feeling isolated.

Wear Hearing Protection to Avoid Loud Sound Exposure
Do you know any precautions we can take to prevent hearing loss? Yes! All of us must be aware that loud sound exposure does affect and might worsen our hearing. Don’t panic about that! We can wear hearing protection devices which are ear plugs to protect our hearing during loud and noisy situations such as when playing fireworks, firecrackers, bombastic drum playing during lion dance.

Communicating in a smaller group with Intimate Conversations Groups 
Conversation in a big group during Chinese New Year gathering sounds merrier but it can also create a noisy environment which makes people with hearing loss feel irritated and anxious. Hence, we encourage people to communicate in a smaller group with a more intimate conversation interaction to ensure no one is left behind.

Face The Person When Speaking
In order to help people who with hearing loss, we are suggested to face them directly when talking without covering our mouth by hands or other object due to lip-reading can be a precious tool for people who in hearing inability. They will feel more secure to catch our line without difficulties.

Be Patience and Supportive
We can encourage everyone including our family to speak clearly, face each other and be patient to communicate slowly and repeatedly if required during the conversation with people with hearing inability. Besides, we can be supportive to people with hearing loss especially when they are in the hard time during conversation to foster an atmosphere of patience and inclusivity.

Hearing-friendly doesn’t just represent a person’s hearing ability but also to ensure everyone feels connected to the spirit of occasion. With this positive mindset, all voices can be heard and cherished.  One thing for sure, we are all the same and eligible to experience the full warmth and joy of every celebration regardless of the hearing inability. Can’t wait for upcoming Chinese New Year? Me too! Let’s get ready to spread positivity and love to celebrate our upcoming hearing-friendly Chinese New Year!

Hayley Lim, Customer Care Executive at 20dB Hearing Tawau