Making the most of Halloween and Bonfire Night
It’s time to celebrate Halloween and Bonfire Night with family and friends. Crisp leaves crunching beneath our feet, darkening sky, and evenings curled under a blanket.
As a person who is deaf, I have always enjoyed this season. However, it can be challenging. As a deaf person, I am in a unique position to be able to identify these challenges for my daughter because I have been through them myself.
Isabelle had to be dressed in the most adorable pumpkin costume possible for Halloween. After completing my mission, the next challenge was to keep her hearing aids in place with the hat that accompanied it. The cap didn’t allow for much room.
Would Isabelle wear one of the headbands that are available today? No way! Fair enough, she also didn’t wear the hat. I snapped a few pictures and decided not to worry about the headgear. It wasn’t a bad decision because some hats muffle sound and cover microphones. I know this from experience, and it makes my life a bit more difficult. A size larger can help. It’s not to save on sound but to avoid the hairy hats!
A Halloween caution is to keep in mind that children often wear masks to go with their scary costumes. It can be a problem for deaf individuals as they are unable to lip-read. Face painting is a great alternative. It gives you that zombie look while still being able to communicate. Children line up the streets to play Trick or Treat. Try to choose a well-lit neighborhood or bring a torch. It will make a huge difference to the deaf child, who is more reliant on visual cues than a hearing kid.
On to Bonfire Night, sparklers and hot chocolate with a sparkling display of fireworks. Last year, my biggest concern was Isabelle’s hearing devices getting lost in a field of darkness. This year, we will use her clip-on retainer to hold her cochlear implant in place and check it regularly. She would probably love to throw them into a muddy pool!
Both events are usually celebrated in large crowds or groups in a noisy and lively environment. While exciting, these events can be exhausting for people with hearing loss who have to work twice as much to hear their friends and family.
While I wouldn’t limit Isabelle in any way, you should consider what is best for your own family. Some children might prefer fireworks in their backyard or a home Halloween party. We are going to a smaller display this year because Isabelle was so overwhelmed by the last one.
You could bring your radio to an event so that your child can hear you above the noise. Deaf children can also benefit from wearing ear protectors when attending loud events. It will protect their hearing and reduce the volume. It’s also possible to turn down the volume or even turn off their hearing technology if things get too loud.
Wrap up your little wizards and witches in safety and make new memories with your family, no matter how you celebrate or what changes you make.
