Why November and December Are a Good Time for a Hearing Test

November quietly ushers in more than just seasonal change. It's the month when families begin planning gatherings, when calendars fill with anticipation, and when we start reflecting on the year behind us while looking ahead to new beginnings.

For many in our Los Gatos community, it's also the perfect time to reconnect with what matters most—and that starts with how well you're hearing the world around you.

The Gift of Connection This Holiday Season

Think about your favorite holiday memories. Chances are, they involve voices: your grandmother's laugh, children excitedly sharing their day, friends catching up over dinner, or everyone talking at once around the Thanksgiving table. These moments aren't just nice—they're what keep us feeling like ourselves, connected to the people who matter.

When hearing becomes challenging, these gatherings can shift from joyful to exhausting. You might find yourself nodding along without fully following the conversation, or retreating to quieter corners to avoid the strain. November gives you a window to change that trajectory before the season truly begins.

Starting now means you're not scrambling during December's whirlwind. You have time to understand what's happening with your hearing, explore solutions if needed, and arrive at holiday celebrations ready to fully participate. Imagine sitting at the dinner table this Thanksgiving, catching every story, every joke, every shared memory—not just fragments.

Making the Most of This Moment

There's practical wisdom in choosing November for a hearing evaluation. Many of us have health benefits sitting unused as the year winds down. Those FSA dollars that disappear in January? This is your chance to invest them in something that genuinely improves daily life.

Beyond finances, November's pace gives you breathing room. Before the holiday rush intensifies, you can thoughtfully address your hearing health without feeling rushed. If it turns out you'd benefit from hearing aids, you'll have time to adjust to them in familiar settings—your home, your favorite coffee shop, your regular walking route—before navigating noisier holiday environments.

What Families Notice (That We Sometimes Miss)

Here's something we see often at our practice: someone comes in after Thanksgiving because their daughter mentioned they kept asking her to repeat herself. Or they realize they couldn't hear their grandkids' excitement about school. Or they found themselves exhausted after just a few hours with family.

Hearing loss develops slowly, giving us time to adapt without realizing how much we're missing. We turn up the TV. We position ourselves strategically in restaurants. We smile and nod when we're not quite sure what someone said. These adjustments feel minor in the moment, but they add up to something significant: distance from the life happening around us.

Dr. Novick understands this personally. As someone who has worn hearing aids since childhood, she knows the isolation that can creep in, and more importantly, the reconnection that comes when you address it. That lived experience shapes everything we do here.

Understanding Where You Stand

Our comprehensive hearing evaluations do more than confirm whether you're hearing well—they create a complete picture of your auditory health. We take time with your medical history because hearing connects to overall wellness in surprising ways. Heart health, diabetes, certain medications, and noise exposure all play roles in how we hear.

During the evaluation, you'll sit in our soundproof booth while we assess how you process different sounds and speech. We test in both quiet and noisy conditions because that's how real life works. You're not just hearing in controlled silence—you're trying to understand your friend in a busy restaurant, follow conversations when multiple people are talking, or catch dialogue on TV while dinner is being prepared nearby.

Your results appear on an audiogram, which becomes your personal hearing roadmap. Some hearing changes need medical attention. Others respond beautifully to hearing aids or assistive technology. We walk through everything together, answering questions and discussing what makes sense for your specific situation and lifestyle.

Beyond Hearing: Supporting Your Whole Self

The connections between hearing and overall health keep revealing themselves through research. Untreated hearing loss doesn't just affect communication—it's linked to cognitive changes, increased fall risk, and social withdrawal. When you can't easily engage in conversations, you might start declining invitations. When groups feel overwhelming, you might choose solitude more often.

This isn't about decline—it's about maintaining the active, engaged life you've built. November offers a chance to fold hearing health into your broader wellness picture as you head into a new year. Many people use this time to schedule check-ups, adjust medications, or set health intentions. Your hearing deserves the same attention.

When Tinnitus Joins the Conversation

If you experience ringing, buzzing, or other sounds in your ears, you're not alone. Tinnitus affects millions of people, and for most, it's connected to hearing loss. The quiet weeks before holiday festivities arrive can be an ideal time to address it.

We offer comprehensive tinnitus evaluations and treatments, including the Lenire system, which uses bimodal neuromodulation to help your brain process tinnitus differently. Starting treatment now gives you time to experience improvement before stress and noise levels typically increase during the holidays—factors that can intensify tinnitus for many people.

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The Path Forward Starts with One Appointment

Taking the first step often feels bigger than it needs to. Scheduling a hearing evaluation takes just a phone call, and the appointment itself is straightforward. We encourage bringing someone close to you—hearing affects relationships, and having support helps everyone understand the results and next steps.

If hearing aids become part of your journey, we're with you throughout the process. Programming and adjustments are included at no charge during your first year, along with lifetime cleaning services. We use Real Ear Measurements to ensure your hearing aids are precisely calibrated to your unique hearing profile and ear canal acoustics, not just programmed to generic settings.

Most people find that approaching hearing aids with openness and patience leads to the best outcomes. Your brain needs time to relearn sounds it hasn't been processing clearly, and we guide you through that adjustment period with regular follow-ups and fine-tuning.

Reconnecting With What Brings You Joy

Consider what you've been missing or avoiding. Maybe it's dinner with friends at that restaurant you love but find too loud. Perhaps it's volunteering at community events where conversations get lost in background noise. Or it could be simple things—birds singing on your morning walk, music that used to move you, the television at a volume everyone else can tolerate.

These aren't small losses. They're pieces of the life you've built and the connections that sustain you.

End Your Year with Better Hearing and Schedule Your Hearing Evaluation!

November's timing removes obstacles and creates momentum. You have benefits to use, holidays approaching that you want to fully enjoy, and a new year ahead that deserves your healthiest, most connected self.

We're located at 340 Dardanelli Lane in Los Gatos, serving families throughout San Jose, Saratoga, Campbell, Santa Cruz, Cupertino, and Santa Clara. Since opening in 2014, we've been committed to honest, affordable hearing healthcare delivered with genuine care.

Call us at (408) 540-7128 to schedule your comprehensive hearing evaluation. Let's make this holiday season one where you hear every laugh, every story, every moment that matters—and carry that clarity into the year ahead.