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Learning to Communicate with People with Hearing Loss
Posted By Attunehearing Attunehearing
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Communicating with people with hearing loss can be a little demanding, and it requires a lot of patience and knowledge from both individuals. Therefore one needs to learn how to communicate with people with hearing loss.
How do you communicate?
If you are in a crowded area, find somewhere quiet to talk. Ensure that the site has no machine or noises that make hearing difficult. Also, ensure that the room has proper lighting so that the person can see your face.
When communicating with anyone with hearing loss, ensure you gain their attention first. You can call their name or tap their shoulder if comfortable with that.
- Use gestures and expressions
When speaking to them, use gestures and expressions. This will help give the person clarity about what you are talking about. However, don’t exaggerate your face or make unnecessary hand movements. They are distracting.
- Speak clearly
Speak naturally. People are tempted to shout and yell when talking about hearing loss. Don't shout. Shouting not only distort words but also make the person extremely uncomfortable. Don't mumble either, as it is hard to understand what you are saying, even for people with normal hearing. Speak normally. Also, give clues whenever you introduce a new topic.
- Rephrase sentences
Sometimes despite your best efforts to speak clearly and use facial expressions, the person will still not get what you are trying to say. So what do you do now? Most people will be tempted to repeat the sentence or word too many times. However, what you should do is rephrase the words or sentences. Look for a better way to deliver your message to the person.
- Maintain eye contact
Face the person while you speak to them. Make eye contact. Your face and body language add vital information to the message you are delivering. You can quickly tell a person's mood, joy, frustration and sadness on their face.
- Background noise
Talk away from background noise. Turn off the radio and television or move to a quiet space away from the noise.
- Use apps or texting
Several apps allow you to translate speech to written text on your phone. You can use this to communicate with the person. Texting is also a great way to communicate.
If you think you may be suffering from hearing loss, book an appointment for a hearing test at Attune. Our qualified audiologists offer comprehensive hearing tests. Visit our website or contact us for more information.
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