Hearing loss doesn’t just affect the individual with a hearing impairment. Friends, family and loved ones all must learn to adopt effective communication strategies. Following are steps you can take to enhance communication with somebody who has hearing loss.
- Position yourself in front of the individual and face him or her directly before engaging in conversation
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Make sure you are at eye level to one another to assist with visual cues
- Ensure you have the individual’s attention by using his/her name before speaking
- Speak clearly and slowly without making exaggerated mouth movements or shouting, which distorts speech
- Avoid lengthy and complicated sentences, and make sure you aren’t talking too quickly
- Choose a different way of expressing the same thing if the hearing impaired person is having trouble understanding what you are saying
- Eliminate distractions while speaking: keep your hands away from your face and avoid eating or smoking
- If the person with hearing loss can hear better in one ear, position yourself next to that one
- Make sure the hearing impaired individual is aware of the conversation topic before you begin speaking
- Encourage handwritten notes in situations where specific information is required
- Pay attention to the person you are speaking to
- Enroll in aural rehabilitation classes together to learn the most effective communication strategies