A very common complaint for people with hearing loss is hearing within background noise and distinguishing speech. Many patients rely on lip reading to help them understand the conversation and this has become a big obstacle to overcome due to the Covid-19 pandemic and masks being worn.
Virtual communications and tele-health appointments are the newest advancement in “face to face” encounters to help alleviate exposure. This is a great alternative for many to still be able to work and gain access to health care while keeping a safe distance.
People with hearing loss can experience some difficulty with this type of communication and below are some tips to help achieve a smooth appointment.
- Make time for introductions at the beginning of the appointment. This allows you to make sure other users can hear you, and you can hear them.
- Have good lighting. Sitting against a wall is preferred to achieve good lighting to highlight your face for cues. When you sit in front of a window, the back lighting hides your facial features.
- Don’t cover your mouth. Keep your hair, hands, and clothes away from your mouth.
- Wait your turn to speak and project when doing so.
- Mute the microphone if you are not speaking. This helps avoid ambient background noise entering the virtual room.
- If you have Bluetooth devices that are paired to your phone or tablet, make sure they are connected.