In our practice, we meet a lot of folks who are coping with hearing loss. For those who are hard of hearing, communication can be a frustrating and daunting task. The following tips are very helpful in improving communication:
- Speak slowly and enunciate clearly. Pause between sentences.
- Do not shout. A loud voice may increase distortion without improving comprehension.
- State the topic of discussion as you begin. When you change the topic, make sure the listener is aware of the new topic.
- Allow the person with hearing loss to choose their seating first, and ask what you can do to communicate better. Most people know what will help or interfere with communication.
- Look directly at the person you are speaking to and maintain eye contact.
- Don’t continue to speak while turning away to look at a computer, your notes, or another person in the room.
- Reduce background noises. Hearing aids amplify the ambient noises.
- If the person is unable to hear the words spoken, rephrase the sentence rather than repeating the original words.Use shorter, simpler sentences.
- Spell out a word or phrase to clarify. Say individual numbers (“five, six” rather than “fifty six”)
- Be aware of fatigue. People who are hard of hearing must work harder to communicate, and this can be extremely tiring.
- Check out assistive listening devices at a store like Hearing Speech and Deafness Center. http://www.hsdc.org/store/. In our office, we offer a Pocket Talker, which can help in small, face-to-face meetings.http://hsdcstore.com/pocketalkerpro.aspx.
We often forget how much information is spoken. Although these tips may seem simple, they can make a world of difference.