Improving Communication When You Have Hearing Loss

By Kendra Bergstrom – 

Today, one in 10 Americans live with varying degrees of hearing loss. That means 36 million people in this country struggle daily with hearing, and for those people and their friends and family, conversations can sometimes be difficult.

You and your loved ones can cope with hearing loss and learn to effectively communicate with one another. Here are a few tips for those experiencing hearing loss and for their friends and family.

Tips for People with Hearing Loss

BE OPEN

Explain your situation. Hearing loss doesn’t denote weakness or vulnerability, so you don’t have to hide it or be ashamed. Inform your friend or loved one that you may be lip reading and repeating certain phrases back during the conversation. If you didn’t understand what was spoken, repeat what you heard and ask for clarification. Remember to always be prepared for difficulty during any conversation, and not to let that frustrate you. We recommend carrying a pen and pad with you for those exceptionally difficult times.

REDUCE BACKGROUND NOISE The television, the conversation at the next table, the cars on the highway, your neighbor mowing his lawn; all of these contribute to the background noises that can degrade hearing abilities even further. When speaking with others, try to anticipate and prevent background noise. If possible, avoid peak times when dining at restaurants. Also, try requesting a quieter area to minimize ambient noises. When talking at home, be sure your television or radio is turned down or off to prevent excess noise from interfering with your conversation. You can always move the conversation to a quieter area, like another room or even outside.

USE YOUR EYES

Hearing isn’t the only sense that can be used during a conversation. Sight is just as vital. Watching lips can contribute to comprehension. Try facing the person who is speaking, so their face (and lips) can be seen clearly. During the discussion, actively try to read their lips. If you aren’t very good at this, consider taking advantage of the LACE (Listening and Communication Enhancement) program, available at Miracle-Ear.

UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY

Wear your hearing aid as often as your Hearing Care Professional recommends. Today’s hearing aids are sleek and compact, but most importantly, they improve a person’s hearing ability. Aside from hearing aids, our technology-friendly society offers an array of gadgets and apps that can improve daily life. People with hearing loss have options with apps like Captionfish, which finds captioned and subtitled movies playing in theaters near you, or ClearCaptions, which captions phone calls on your mobile device or tablet.

Tips for Friends and Family 

Conversing with a hearing impaired individual can be hard at times, but it isn’t impossible. The most important thing is to be aware of their condition and how to best help them during the conversation. Here are a few more tips you can implement when speaking to a person who is experiencing hearing loss:

• Gain their attention first so they can look at you while you talk.
• Slow down, and speak in a clear voice. Remember not to shout. Not only is shouting insensitive, it distorts your lips which makes communication even harder for those with hearing ailments.
• Try to position yourself on the side that is best for the person with hearing loss.
• Face the person when speaking. Also, keep your hands away from your mouth.
• Don’t chew gum, eat or smoke during conversation.
• When asked for clarification, rephrase your point instead of repeating. Some of the words might use consonants that aren’t easily heard by the person experiencing hearing loss.
• Most importantly, be patient and understanding.

Hearing loss doesn’t have to negatively impact your conversations. If you or your loved ones are experiencing hearing loss and would like to learn how to communicate better, visit one of the many Miracle-Ear locations near you.

Kendra joined Amplifon in August 2013 and has been part of the hearing aid industry since 1998, where she worked as a hearing instrument dispenser.  After leaving the clinic, Kendra spent 15 years providing technical support for a hearing aid manufacturer. Before coming to Amplifon, Kendra worked in a sales office supplying products to hearing care professionals.  Her experience in each position has utilized her background and given her a broad range of experience from various perspectives within the hearing aid industry.