3 Ways to Improve Communication When You Have Hearing Loss

Do you often find yourself in situations of not being able to hear conversations with others? Do you keep requesting others to repeat themselves constantly? And do you, therefore, feel like a pest and get frustrated? If so, don’t stop communicating altogether. Communicate more. The three tips listed below will help you better improve communication when you have hearing loss.

Be honest

With hearing loss, conversations don’t have to be challenging. Let people know you have trouble hearing. Be honest about your situation, so you don’t have to struggle so much. It is far better to speak up about hearing loss, than to withdraw and not socialize. Being honest about it will lessen pressure on you to keep up with what’s being said. Therefore, you will have less anxiety, depression, and stress. The burden to adapt should not be yours alone. People around you need to adjust their own communication styles to better fit your needs. But they can’t do so if you are not honest with them about your hearing loss. Tell them what’s the matter, so they can help you by changing their own communicative ways.

Find ways to control your environment

With hearing loss, some environments are better than others for holding conversations. But you have the power to adjust your situation. For example, asking to sit on a particular side of the dinner table because you can hear better out of one ear than the other, is a proactive stance. Or, for example, you request to go to a quieter restaurant than originally planned. Such requests are reasonable, so friends and loved ones should understand.
Certainly, it is better if you choose the setting for a social interaction, but that can’t always happen. Try to manage unavoidable, noisy situations. Get next to whomever is speaking. Look at his or her hand gestures, moving lips, and body language. If understanding is still difficult, be sure to tell the individual, so that there’s opportunity for him or her to resolve the situation. Pretending to understand is not very helpful and can only last for so long.

Find a solution instead of struggling
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Open communication is key in dealing with hearing loss. Not only be honest with others, be honest with yourself. Don’t continue to struggle. Rather, contact a professional about your hearing loss and make an appointment. Move forward successfully. Contact a hearing instrument specialist at Pure Sound Hearing Aids.

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