Tips for a Successful Virtual Family Reunion

This is the time of year that a lot of family reunions take place. Given our tumultuous times, it's more important than ever to stay in touch with family, near or far. While this year makes it harder to have the reunion you want, that doesn't mean that you can't have a blast! Don't let the constraints of travel and social distance deter you from making memories as a family. Consider a virtual family reunion. 

To ensure your virtual reunion goes off without a hitch, take a look at the following tips. 

Ensure the most reliable WiFi possible

Poor WiFi can hamper kick you off the call and make conversation glitchy and error-prone, killing the vibe for others in the video chat room. Sit as close as possible to your WiFi router and test it out beforehand so that you know it works. 

Have a dress rehearsal

Hold a small practice meeting one week before the actual reunion to ensure everybody's technology works. This allows you to iron out any kinks before the big day. It also lets the younger generation solve technical problems for older adults if necessary.

Open the meeting room early

People will use different devices to join, and not all of your participants will be tech-savvy. Open the meeting room early to have enough time for people who have connecting questions or install the meeting app. You should be prepared to respond politely to how-to questions as a host.

Other than just chatting, schedule things to do

People would have side chats in the kitchen or outside and move around the room under regular in-person reunions and enter other conversations. In a video call, only one person may speak at one time. That's not the easiest thing to keep up for very long. It could be more beneficial to set a plan if you are hosting, so people know what to expect.

Make sure your family is clued up on basic video call etiquette

Not everyone has been using Zoom for work since the start of the pandemic, so it reminds people of ways to keep the conversation flowing smoothly. Here's a quick guide:

• Take turns speaking. Make a deliberate attempt to stop interrupting. You will keep butt-ins to a minimum by clicking the mute icon while you're not talking. Background noise, which influences the ability to understand the conversation, will also be removed, making it easier for those with hearing issues to follow the conversation. 

• Monitor background noise. Avoid actions that may produce unnecessary noise, such as shuffling papers, if your microphone is not muted.

• Correctly position your camera. If you want to use a web camera, make sure that it is, if possible, in a secure position and aimed at eye level. Doing so tends to create a more direct sense of contact with other respondents.

• Restrict distractions. By turning off alerts, closing or minimizing running programs, and muting your smartphone, you can make it easier to concentrate on the reunion.

• Avoid multitasking. Focus only on the reunion and refrain from using your smartphone or having other windows open.

Video Calls and Hearing Loss

Sadly, those who are hard of hearing will have particular difficulties during the virtual reunion. 

People with hearing loss often use speaker mode to see the largest possible picture of the person talking or use headphones to boost audio. The audio quality can still vary from one speaker to another, and people's lips often fall out of sync with the audio. It isn't easy for those with hearing loss to want to step in and add to the conversation because they are unsure of what has been said.

With that in mind, here is how you can make the reunion easier if you have hearing loss.

Take advantage of closed captioning. Both Google and Microsoft made automatic captions free. But Zoom, the apparent favorite medium during the pandemic to unite loved ones, lags. Zoom's free plan doesn't allow closed captioning in real-time. Take this into consideration when choosing the video call technology for your event.

Use your Bluetooth setting on your hearing aids. Many modern hearing aids contain Bluetooth technology, enabling them to connect to laptops and stream audio straight into the ear. This is an excellent option if you have it and makes it easier to follow the conversation. 

Use noise-canceling headphones. These reduce the effect of background noise on your ability to hear the conversation and be very useful for video calls. Most have a microphone feature so you can communicate with your family members using the same device.

Hart Hearing and Balance Centers

One of the most important elements of staying in touch and connected with your loved ones is ensuring that you are hearing at your best! If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing, it is important to schedule a hearing test. 

At Hart Hearing and Balance Centers, we provide comprehensive hearing health services. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing test.