How to Effectively Communicate with Someone who is Hard of Hearing

Anyone with hearing loss knows how difficult it can be to have a conversation with family, friends, or colleagues. You may feel fatigued, discouraged, or just zone out on discussions altogether. It’s also a challenge for those with whom you are trying to communicate. They may not always be as patient when you don’t understand what they are saying. Here are some tips that family, friends, and colleagues can use to effectively communicate. 

How do people with hearing loss experience hearing?

Be open and honest about how you hear speech and other noises. A good way to explain it is by comparing it to “Wheel of Fortune”. Some of the letters can be heard, while others cannot be heard. The person with hearing loss is attempting to piece together the fragmented sounds that are heard and then trying to use context, facial expressions, and hand gestures to get a fuller idea of what the conversation is about. 

Hearing aids are not like eyeglasses. Wearing hearing aids helps to amplify sounds and block out background noise, but you may not always get a clean and crisp sound. Those with hearing loss can hear some speech sounds, but may not comprehend everything that was said. 

Ways to improve conversations with someone who has hearing loss

1. Give some context before and during the conversation. Context allows the person to fill in the blanks. If you hear “_ook”, based on whether the discussion is about literature (book) or cooking (cook), it’s very helpful.
2. Make sure you have their attention before you start speaking. Hearing requires a lot of concentration. It’s important that you have their full attention. If you start to speak before they are ready, they will need to catch up which will make it harder for them to get the context of the conversation.
3. Make your face and lips visible (Currently, you can use clear face masks.) If they can lip-read, it’s a helpful tool that can fill in the blanks of what they were unable to hear. If they can’t see you, they can’t hear you. Do not cover your hands and make sure you are in a well-lit area. 
4. Speak clearly and at a regular pace. Volume is only a fraction of the difficulty. Clarity is vital. Speak clearly and try to keep a steady rate of speech. Rapid speech is difficult to understand. The time it takes for the brain to process is compressed, whereas speaking too slowly looks strange on the lips and makes lip-reading less reliable. 
5. Be mindful of your surroundings. Background noise can be a problem. It’s best to avoid areas with too much background noise as much as possible. If you can, turn off the air conditioner or turn the fan down to a lower level. Don’t have music playing in the background. Make reservations at a quiet restaurant or ask for a table in a quiet, well-lit area.  
6. Only allow one speaker at a time. If many people are having a conversation with someone hard of hearing, ask that only one person speaks at a time and to face you.    
7. Be ready to repeat, or rephrase. You are going to hear “What?” a few times throughout the conversation. Be patient and repeat, or if necessary, rephrase what you said. You can type out a word in the notes section of your smartphone if it is too difficult to understand. This can help them piece together the conversation. 
8. Have a sense of humor. Communication can be frustrating and miserable, but it’s still important to connect. If you make a silly mistake, be the first to laugh. It will ease the tension and help you get through your hearing journey. 

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

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