Communicating with people who have hearing loss can be challenging and frustrating for both parties.
Here are some tips to help minimize this frustration.
• Don’t Guess What People Are Saying
Acknowledge your hearing difficulties. It’s better to be perceived as ‘hard of hearing’ than to be misunderstood due to difficulty following conversations.
• Stay Positive
A positive attitude will encourage others to communicate with you more effectively
• Ask for Help, the Right Way
Instead of saying, “Can you speak up… you are not speaking clearly enough,” try, “Sorry, I have trouble hearing. Could you speak up a little?”
• Be Specific in the Help You Ask For
Explain that you can miss things if you don’t know who is talking. Ask people to get your attention before they start to talk.
Mention that it’s hard to hear when multiple people are
Inform them that you read lips, so you need to see their face. talking at once.
If you miss something, say what you did hear and ask them to repeat the part you missed. For example, “I heard you are going on a trip, but I missed when you are leaving.”
• Pick Your Best Spot
Choose a quiet location with good lighting. Consider the ear you hear better with when positioning yourself. For instance, “I don’t hear well in noisy situations. Can we move to this quiet corner?”
• Pay Attention
Focus on the speaker. Even those with normal hearing use visual cues like facial expressions, body language, and lip movement to understand better.
• Show Appreciation
Thank those who go out of their way to help you.
• Be Supportive
Accompany them to hearing evaluations and other hearing care appointments. Educate yourself about hearing loss to improve communication and understanding.
• Get the Listener’s Attention
Say the person’s name before starting to talk to get their attention.
• Do Not Shout!
Shouting distorts your face and makes you appear angry.
• Speak Clearly and Moderately
Enunciate the ends of your words. Instead of “How’r ya feelin t’day?” say, “How are you feeling today?”
• Do Not Cover Your Mouth
Objects or food in front of the mouth impede speech-reading.
• Use Gestures When Talking
Gestures help with understanding. For example, point to your watch when asking, “What time is it?”
• Rephrase Rather than Repeat
If not understood the first time, try saying it differently
• Be Patient
Remember, communication breakdowns are frustrating for both parties; share the responsibility.
Turn off the radio, television, or
stereo. Suggest moving to a
quieter location.
Avoid talking to someone from
a different room
Ensure the light is on the speaker’s face and not shining into the listener’s eyes. Listeners with hearing loss rely on visual cues from the lips, face, and gestures.
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