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- Interacting with the cashier<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Lots of people<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Loud background noise<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Distracting environments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
While you may not be able to control the environment in which you shop, making small changes to how you shop can help reduce stress. Changes may include planning your trip, using self-checkout, shopping at small businesses and wearing hearing aids. Let\u2019s look at each of these options a little more closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plan Your Trip<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n![\"Man](\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Man-shopping-in-a-supermarket.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nMaking a shopping list ahead of time will help shorten your trip and prevent forgotten items. Try laying your list out in categories for different places in the store. For instance, listing milk, butter and eggs together will keep you from running back and forth across the store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use Self-Checkout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If interacting with the cashier is difficult or causes stress, try going to stores with self-checkout options. Self-checkout will allow you to purchase your items without interacting with another person. While it is not guaranteed, most self-checkout lanes are equipped with ADA-compliant information displays. Rather than playing only audio messages, they should also display text on screen, making it easier to obtain all necessary information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shop at a Small Business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Shopping at a small business will not only help make your shopping experience more stress-free, but it also supports the local economy. Small businesses are usually not as busy or frantic as larger box stores and may provide a more relaxing shopping experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wear Hearing Aids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Approximately 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from the use of hearing aids<\/a>. The devices have a microphone that collects noise, an amplifier that raises its volume and a speaker which transmits it directly into the ear canal. Hearing aids can help decrease the stress of your shopping trip<\/a> by reducing ambient noise and amplifying speech sounds to make communication and situational awareness easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following these tips will help you have a better shopping experience with hearing loss. For more information or to discuss hearing loss treatment, make an appointment with an audiologist at Ear, Nose & Throat Associates<\/span> today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n