On Saptami morning, the dhak starts before you have finished your chai. The kansor joins in, the loudspeaker announces the Anjali timing, and the children run ahead calling out to Dadu to hurry up. That is Puja in Kolkata. It is a festival you see, but it is just as much one you hear.
Now picture Dadu in the middle. He smiles and nods, but he missed the announcement, and he did not catch what the little one said to him. Later he quietly asks what everyone was laughing about.
Many seniors can still hear the dhak. What slips away is speech, especially in a crowd. Here is how to help your parent stay part of the conversation, and when a Hearing Aid or a hearing test is worth considering.
Why Durga Puja Can Be Hard for Seniors With Hearing Loss
Hearing loss becomes more common as we age. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 25% of people above 60 have disabling hearing loss. In many Kolkata families, at least one elder at the Puja table is likely dealing with it.
A pandal is one of the toughest places to listen. Loudspeakers, dhak, traffic, music from the next pandal and hundreds of voices arrive together, and a person with hearing loss may hear the noise but struggle to pick out the one voice they want.
That takes effort. By evening your parent may go quiet or ask to head home early, which looks like lost interest but is often listening fatigue. WHO lists trouble following conversations at social gatherings as a common warning sign of hearing loss.
Simple Ways to Make Pandal Hopping Easier for Elderly Family Members
Pick quieter hours. Late mornings and early afternoons are often calmer than the night rush from Saptami to Navami. There is no need to avoid the crowds completely.
Stay away from the loudest speakers. Enjoy the dhak, but do not seat your parent right beside a loudspeaker for an hour. WHO explains that risk depends on how loud a sound is, how long you are exposed and how often. WHO also gives a simple test: if you have to raise your voice to be heard by someone an arm’s length away, the place is too loud.
Give the ears a break. Loud sound can tire the sensory cells in the ear and cause muffled hearing or ringing for a while. For loud events, WHO suggests resting in a quiet space for about 10 minutes after every hour. A short sit in a quieter lane works well.
Face your parent when you speak. Come close, face them and speak clearly at a steady pace. Seeing your lips and expression helps. Shouting from across the pandal does not. For anything important, step into a quieter corner first.
Can a Hearing Aid Help Seniors Enjoy Durga Puja?
For many seniors, it can. A hearing aid that is properly selected and fitted may help your parent follow family conversations, join group talk. WHO also recognises hearing aids as an option that can benefit people with hearing loss.
It is not a switch that brings back normal hearing, though. A hearing aid will not block out Puja noise, and a crowded pandal stays hard to listen in. Results depend on the type and degree of hearing loss, the device, the fitting and the listening place.
Hearing Aid Checklist Before Pandal Hopping
If your parent already uses a hearing aid, go through this list a few days before Shashthi.
- Switch it on and check that the sound is clear, not muffled or cutting out.
- Charge it fully the night before, or check the battery, and carry spare batteries if needed.
- Clean it the way your audiologist showed you.
- Keep it dry. Kolkata’s humidity and sudden showers can affect it, so a small dry pouch helps. Our hearing aid care tips for humid weather has more.
- Stay away from big speakers, and plan short breaks in a quieter spot.
Signs Your Parent May Need a Hearing Test
Not every senior who says “what?” needs a device. But these signs are worth noticing:
- Often asks people to repeat themselves.
- Keeps the TV volume very high.
- Finds group conversations, noisy places and phone calls difficult.
- Misses parts of a conversation, or answers something different.
- Goes quiet or pulls back because following the talk is tiring.
If several sound familiar, a hearing test for seniors is a sensible next step. WHO lists older adults among the groups that should be screened. A test shows whether there is hearing loss, how much, whether one ear or both are affected, and what support may suit. Happy Ears offers audiometry, tympanometry and other hearing tests, and home visits for elderly people by appointment.
Is Your Parent Missing Conversations During Puja?
If your parent keeps asking people to repeat themselves or struggles in crowded places, a hearing assessment can help you understand why. Book a hearing assessment at Happy Ears.
Should You Buy a Hearing Aid Before Durga Puja?
Only after a hearing test, and never in a hurry. Do not to choose a device because it is the cheapest, the most expensive, a neighbour’s favourite or the one with the most features. No hearing aid suits everyone.
Look at the test results, your parent’s daily routine, and whether they can manage the device comfortably (buttons, batteries, charging). Ask about fitting, follow-up visits, warranty and how close the service centre is. Elderly users often need a few adjustment visits, so an easy-to-revisit clinic matters. Our guide on how to choose a hearing aid for an elderly parent covers this step by step.
Cost varies with technology, style, features, fitting and support, so check the hearing aid price in Kolkata guide for current information. If Puja is only days away, do not rush. A crowded pandal is a hard place to get used to a new device, so it may be kinder to start now and give your parent time to settle in.
When Should a Senior See a Hearing Professional?
Book a visit if your parent has persistent trouble hearing or understanding speech, ringing in the ears that does not go away, or hearing problems that affect everyday conversation. Ear pain or discharge also needs attention.
If hearing drops suddenly, do not wait for Puja to end. Sudden hearing loss needs prompt medical attention, so see a doctor as soon as you can.
Don’t Let Hearing Loss Take Away the Sounds of Puja
Think about what your parent looks forward to each year. The dhak on Shashthi evening, the Anjali on Ashtami morning with the whole family standing together, grandchildren pulling them along to one more pandal, a long Puja adda over sweets.
Hearing loss can quietly take these away. Conversations become tiring, so a senior sits at the edge and smiles. WHO links unaddressed hearing loss with social isolation and loneliness.
Small changes help: sit close, face them, find a quieter corner, and get their hearing checked if you have noticed the signs. Then on Dashami, when Bisarjan begins, your parent is part of the goodbye too, in the middle of the family and not at the edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can seniors with hearing loss enjoy Durga Puja?
Yes. Quieter hours, distance from loudspeakers, short breaks and clear face-to-face talk make a real difference.
Can loud dhak affect hearing?
It depends on how loud it is, how long and how often you are exposed, and how sensitive the person is. WHO says repeated or prolonged loud sound can cause permanent damage. Distance and breaks lower the risk.
Can seniors wear a Hearing Aid during Durga Puja?
Yes. Keep it charged, clean and dry, and ask your audiologist whether settings can be adjusted for noisy places.
Should I get my parent’s hearing tested before Puja?
If you have noticed the signs above, yes. A sudden change in hearing should not wait.
Can a hearing aid help seniors hear conversations in crowded places?
It may help, but crowded places stay the hardest to listen in. Face-to-face talk and a quieter corner still matter.
A Puja Where Every Family Member Belongs
Durga Puja is about seeing Maa, hearing the dhak, joining the Anjali and talking with family. Hearing difficulty should not keep a senior away from these moments. Notice the signs, get a hearing test, understand the options, then choose the right support.
Happy Ears is a hearing aid centre in Kolkata offering hearing care for elderly family members, from assessment and selection to fitting and ongoing support.
Already Using a Hearing Aid?
Before your pandal-hopping plans begin, make sure the device is working comfortably and is ready for the season. If it sounds muffled, cuts out or feels uncomfortable, contact Happy Ears for professional support.
