COMMUNICATION GUIDE FOR HEARING LOSS

Communication Guide for Hearing Loss
Provided by Wolfpack Hearing Clinic in Fayetteville, AR

Communicating successfully is a combined effort of everyone involved. If either you or the person you’re speaking with has difficulty hearing, there are many strategies you can use to make communication easier. Each individual with hearing loss will have different communication needs. There are some general strategies you can use to help conversation flow smoothly, and reduce the risk of a breakdown in communication.

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If you have hearing loss:
  • Be open and assertive. Letting someone know of your hearing impairment at the start of the conversation will make things easier.
  • Ask people to get your attention before they start talking to you.
  • Face the speaker directly and don’t stand too far away, so you can clearly see their face and lips. Expressions, gestures, and body language play an important part in all conversations.
  • If you miss something, ask the speaker to repeat or rephrase it. Don’t be afraid to ask them to slow down or speak more clearly.
  • If your hearing is better in one ear, try turning it toward the person speaking.
  • Try lip reading. Everyone does it to some extent, and particularly in noisy places.
  • Keep calm and be kind to yourself! Getting anxious or frustrated will only make it harder to follow the conversation.
If you’re speaking to someone with hearing loss:
  • Start by attracting their attention, perhaps by waving or tapping their arm.
  • Find a place with good lighting, away from noise or distractions.
  • Always ask the person if they need to lip read you, even if they have a hearing aid.
  • Turn your face towards the person so they can clearly see your lip movements.
  • Speak clearly with normal lip movements, expressions and hand gestures.
  • Use plain language and don’t ramble.
  • Keep your voice down - shouting can look aggressive and make the person with hearing loss uncomfortable.
  • Make sure they understand what you’re saying. If they miss something, try saying it in a different way.
If you have any further questions about communicating with hearing loss, don't hesitate to drop by Wolfpack Hearing Clinic in Fayetteville, AR.
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