Blog: Hear Better With Hearing Loss
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How to Talk to People with Hearing Loss
It can be frustrating to be with someone who says “What?” after every sentence you utter.
Here are a few suggestions to make the conversation easier for both of you.
Look at them when you talk. Most people with hearing loss read body language and lips intuitively. Don’t lean into their ear when you talk—they need to see your lips.
Speak in a normal voice and articulate as clearly as possible. Shouting won’t help.
If the person with hearing loss doesn't get what you said, don’t simply repeat it. Rephrase it. Put it into some context.
Once you've tried unsuccessfully two or three times, don’t say, “Never mind, it doesn’t matter.” By the time you get to that third try, everything matters.
Be conscious of the seating arrangement. A bright light behind you makes speech reading much harder.
Restaurants. Even if you think It’s quiet, it will be hard for the person with hearing loss. Let the person with the loss sit with their back to a wall, preferably a padded wall, like a banquet or booth. A corner table is best.
Turn off the background music when you have visitors with hearing loss. Any noisy appliance, barking dog or clattering dishes, children playing will make it harder for them to hear.
Make sure you have their full attention. It’s hard to cook and hear at the same time, no matter how collegial it may seem to join someone in the kitchen. Both the conversation and the food suffer.
Please print this out and share with family, friends, or your group.