Communicating with People with Hearing Loss

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with hearing loss, it’s important to know how to keep on communicating in a world where sound can have a very different meaning. We all need it as an indicator for life, as it can help us act on social cues and keep us aware of what’s going on around us, but this can become very complicated when you’ve received damage to your ear canal.

And in these cases, communication can take on different tones, and it requires different things from the people who talk to you. Of course, talking to a hearing instrument specialist (HIS) will help set your mind at rest if you have concerns about your own or another’s ability to communicate, but in the meantime, here are some of the best ways to interact in a conversation with someone living with hearing loss, who may or may not use a hearing aid.

Get Their Attention First

The first thing to do, when talking to someone with hearing loss, is to say their name as clearly as possible. This will allow them to face you without you needing to invade their space, and it’s also just a very natural way of getting a conversation started. Similarly, if you have hearing loss, feel free to ask this of anyone who you live or work with.

Always Face Them When Speaking

Now that you’ve got their attention, be sure to remain facing them when you speak. Someone with hearing loss needs to be able to follow visual cues as well as audio ones, and being able to read your lips and facial expressions will help with their comprehension. If you’re living with hearing loss, don’t be afraid to make people aware of this need when talking to you.

Speak Slowly and Clearly

When living with hearing loss, fast sounds can be very hard to keep up with. As such, if you’re talking to a person with a lower level of hearing, be sure to take your time when talking. Obviously, you don’t have to stretch words out, but be conscious to enunciate clearly during the length of your conversation.

Keep Your Speech Unrestricted

When talking to someone with hearing loss, try to keep your mouth uncovered throughout the conversation. Don’t chew, drink while speaking and try to keep your hands down by your body. If you have hearing loss, and you’re talking to someone who keeps covering their mouth, it’s perfectly fine to ask them to remove their hand and repeat what they’ve just said.

Be Mindful of Background Noise

The sound of the background to your conversation can be a huge detriment to someone living with hearing loss. It’s hard to distinguish between the speech in front of them and the hustle going on around them, so try to be mindful of where you start a conversation. Ask to lead them over to a quieter area, or simply wait to talk to them until you’re out of a crowd or on your own together. If music is on nearby, turn it off or down low for the time being, and try to keep your own voice at a louder octave.

Watch Their Body Language

It’s also a good idea to watch your conversation partner’s body language. Someone with hearing loss may be struggling to keep up without you even realizing, so you need to watch for signs of them being uncomfortable. They may feel embarrassed about not being able to understand, so take care to ask if they need anything repeating or even written down for them.

Talk to a Specialist About Communicating with Hearing Loss

Communicating when you’re living with hearing loss, or you’re living with someone who’s experienced it, doesn’t have to be an impossible terrain to navigate. Of course, it can take some getting used to, but it doesn’t have to change your life forever. And here at Armand’s Hearing Center, we’re keen to help you learn how to communicate in a way that never holds you back.

So, get in touch to talk about how communication has changed for you, and what we can do to help you acclimate. Whether you’re perfect for getting a hearing aid fitted or not, we’re keen to hear from you. You can call us at our Bradenton center at 941-748-9800, or at our Sun City center at 813-938-1148 and one of our hearing instrument specialists will be more than happy to help with any of your concerns.