8 Tips To Communicate With Others, when You have Hearing Loss

Communicating with Hearing Loss

Communicating with others can be strenuous, especially if you have hearing loss. You may need the person who you are interacting with to face you when they speak, or give more context when switching topics. It requires you, and the person you are interacting with, to get on the same page in order to have an effective exchange.

Here are some tips to communicate with someone:

1. Make your hearing loss known to them. Nobody can help you if they do not know that you struggle to hear. Make it a habit to announce your hearing loss at the beginning of any group meetings, or individually let others know if you are introducing yourself to them for the first time. This is a great way to provide others with that information, and avoid any awkward situations in the future.  
2. Be explicit about what you need. Let others know what they can do that would help you hear better. You can give specific instructions, such as the best seating arrangement that would give you the optimal listening experience. You will probably need to remind others about what you need. Hearing loss is not easy to recognize, so some people may forget that you have difficulty with hearing.
3. Ease their worries. If you are comfortable with your hearing loss, let that come across to others so that they will also feel at ease. Let them know that they may ask you questions. Have a sense of humor about any mistakes that you or others might make. A funny moment makes people more forgiving in a social blunder, and more willing to try again to communicate with you. 
4. Be more informed. Context is very important when following along in a conversation. It would be wise to keep up with the latest news and trends. It makes it easier to understand a new name (of a popular figure or country) if you recently saw it in the news. This can be helpful if you are visiting another country where historical figures or landmarks are unfamiliar to you. 
5. Have a pleasant demeanor.  Hearing takes a lot of concentration if you suffer from hearing loss. Get a good night’s rest or nap. It’s crucial to be ready in situations where you are communicating with others, so that you can be as alert as possible. Eat healthy, get regular exercise, and get enough sleep. Take a break from others and be alone in  a dark room. Too much interaction with other people and over exposure to light can also cause stress, and distract your brain from listening.   
6. Don’t worry about correcting others and asking questions. If you miss a couple of words in a story, listen for a little longer before asking others to repeat something. You might be able to put together what was said after another sentence. This would not apply when visiting a doctor, or when there is information that is very important. A social situation usually doesn’t require you to understand every single detail. If you need clarification on something, state what you think you heard in order to reduce what needs to be repeated. 
7. Non-verbal cues to use when communicating with others. Cup your hand behind your ear to signal that the speaker needs to talk louder, without interrupting the conversation. Lean closer to someone to show that you have difficulty hearing them. 
8. Go with the flow. Think of what your expectations should be. In some environments, hearing every single word will not be possible. Have a sense of humor if you mishear something.

If you, or a loved one, are in need of hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation.          

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