Every year, I go back to LACE auditory training to refresh my listening skills. Interspersed with the exercises are communication tips, to give a bit of a listening break. A tip that caught my attention this morning: “When going to a movie or play, you can read the reviews in advance to learn about the plot.”

Hmmm….

I do that when I am in the mood for a movie. I always read the reviews.

But I can think of some of my clients that would draw the line here. Yes, it is good to be prepared. But does having a hearing loss automatically mean that we have to put up with spoilers?

I headed to the bookshelf for my copy of Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss by Shari Eberts and Gael Hannan. They did not disappoint!

Rest assured that you can be prepared without having to know the plot ahead of time. For example, you can request a free caption reader devices for individual use. Make sure you arrive early to pick up the device and test it out. If things went well, let the venue know. When something goes awry, you can let them know that, too.

There are some great suggestions also for live theatre, museum tours, and watching TV. I highly recommend this book!

Just one thing to add to their comprehensive list of suggestions: if you are going to be using a hearing loop, there are some hearing aid considerations that you should be aware of. These are summarized succinctly in this YouTube short by Applied Hearing Solutions.

My point? Just like James Bond films, communication strategies need constant updating.  “Well, just goes to show, no one’s indestructible.” — Sean Connery, Diamonds Are Forever