This short film follows one person with hearing loss at a busy Christmas party. It shows how one colleague’s small change made the evening work.
Transcript
The Christmas party. Music, laughter, 40 people all talking at once, and me nodding. I smiled at jokes I did not hear. I said yes to questions I had not caught. Someone asked me something. I laughed, and it turned out they had asked if I was alright.
By nine o’clock I was exhausted. I thought, I will slip out and nobody will notice. Then a colleague moved her chair next to mine, turned to face me and said, “Shall we find somewhere quieter?”
We sat by the window. One person, one conversation, and I heard every word. Find a quiet corner. Face the person. One voice at a time. Small changes, and the party works.
I have hearing loss and I can be the life of the party. I just need to hear it.
Social events are part of working life, and a workplace assessment can look at the settings where communication is hardest as well as the desk. If you or someone in your team is deaf or has hearing loss and would like expert, tailored support to stay productive and comfortable at work, visit https://visualisetrainingandconsultancy.com/workplace-assessments/hearing-loss-workplace-assessment/ to arrange a hearing loss workplace assessment.