Communication plays a crucial role in navigating hearing loss effectively. Discover practical tips and strategies below to enhance communication with individuals experiencing hearing difficulties.
Tips for People with Hearing Loss
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I wear my hearing aids.
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I explain that I have problems understanding speech.
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I place myself opposite the person speaking to me and I lipread.
(I watch the other person.) -
I turn off the noise around me (television, radio, etc.).
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I ensure that there’s good lighting on the face of the person with whom I’m speaking.
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I find out what subject we’re discussing.
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At a meeting, I ask people to speak one at a time
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I ask people to speak slowly.
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I ask questions.
Tips for Friends & Family of a Person with Hearing Loss
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I speak in the same room as the person with the hearing problem.
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I get a person’s a attention before starting to speak (e.g. I call their name or touch tap on the shoulder)
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I bring myself closer to him/her and face him/her to facilitate speechreading.
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I speak clearly and slowly, but I don’t exaggerate my speech.
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I don’t yell.
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I use different words if the ones I initially used were not understood.
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I turn off the noise around us (television, radio, etc.).
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I gesture naturally and avoid hiding my lips behind my fingers, pens, etc.
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I indicate what I want to discuss, and I also indicate when I’m changing subject.
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I ask questions.
Explore these effective communication strategies to foster better understanding and connection with individuals experiencing hearing loss. Implementing these tips can significantly improve communication outcomes for everyone involved.
Find a printable version here: Tips for Facilitating Communication.
