During the winter holidays, when people tend to attend holiday parties, organizations often conduct drinking and driving prevention campaigns.

Your organization could combine a “leave your keys at home” driving campaign with a hearing loss campaign.

Hearing impaired persons would be encouraged to see an audiologist and get their hearing tested before going to holiday parities. People with hearing aids would be encouraged to remember to use them at the party. People who do not have a hearing loss could be reminded to consider the hearing impaired and use good communication techniques.   

The movement could grow through the development of a website, brochures, and partnerships with other nonprofit organizations.

Julie Flygare is a published author, blogger, and runner who was diagnosed with narcolepsy and cataplexy in 2007. She collaborated with Harvard Medical School researchers in 2009 to create an educational program on narcolepsy based on her story to familiarize doctors with the condition. On her website, Julie presented tips on how to raise awareness of narcolepsy at holiday parties.

Holiday parties represent a great opportunity to bring up the topic of hearing loss with friends and work colleagues. This campaign could help people with normal hearing to appreciate the challenges hearing impaired persons may have at social gatherings with high levels of background noise.  

The opportunity to reconnect with friends and family over the holidays could potentially motivate hearing impaired persons to take action on their hearing loss.