Dinner table syndrome is real, and I still feel it as a DHH adult. The jokes go too fast, people talk over each other, someone throws in a quick “nevermind,” and suddenly I am lost. I smile, pretend to laugh, and slowly check out. On the outside it can look like I am moody, quiet, or “on my phone again.” On the inside I feel lonely in a room full of people I love. Read that again: Sometimes I feel lonely in a room full of people I love. If your child is deaf or hard of hearing, you might see this too. They stop trying to jump in. They cling to you. They act “silly” or “grumpy” at family gatherings. It is not that they do not care. It is that keeping up is exhausting and embarrassing. From my audiologist side: please do not assume they are just cranky for no reason. Holidays mean new voices, loud rooms, clinking dishes, music, and multiple conversations at once. That is a lot of listening load on an already tired brain. Simple things help so much: • Get your child’s attention bef...