Hearing Associates

Part 1:
Seven Reasons You Hear
Better With Two Ears

Part 2:
Q & A

Part 3:
Tips on How to Communicate with a Hearing Impaired Person

Say What ?

Part 3: Tips on How to Communicate with
a Hearing Impaired Person

1. DO NOT SHOUT. Shouted speech can cause an exaggeration of familiar visual clues. Excessively loud speech can be painful and/or cause distortion of the sound.

2. SPEAK SLOWLY. Try to slow down the rate of speech, keeping the normal flow and rhythm without dragging out individual words.

3. RE-PHRASE RATHER THAN REPEAT. When a person misunderstands, don’t repeat exactly what you said but paraphrase or change your wording.

4. AVOID BACKGROUND NOISE. Try to eliminate or move away from any background noise as it confuses the listener.

5. TRY TO ACHIEVE OPTIMUM LIGHTING. Make sure the existing light in the room falls on your face. If your face is in the shade, and the light falls in the hearing impaired person’s eyes, he will have trouble using visual cues.

6. OPTIMUM DISTANCE. The optimum distance is five feet or less. Any greater distance requires shouted speech and reduces the possibility of utilizing visual cues.

7. DO NOT OBSCURE YOUR MOUTH OR FACE. If your hand covers your mouth, chin, or cheek while talking, or if you’re chewing gum or on a pencil or pen, or you’re eating while talking, speech sounds and visual cues will be distorted.

8. USE TOPIC CLUES. Before beginning or changing a communication, try to give a topic clue. For example: "I’m talking about _____." "I want to talk to you about _____." Or "Let’s discuss _____."

9. ENVIRONMENTAL CLUES. When possible, draw the hearing impaired person’s attention to the object or items being discussed.

10. ACQUIRE A PERSON’S VISUAL ATTENTION. When speaking, it is important to make sure the person is watching you and for you to stand still and keep your face directed toward the hearing impaired person.

11. TRY NOT TO BECOME IMPATIENT. If you can remain positive and stay relaxed, it will be easier for the hearing impaired person to understand you. Please remember that they hear less when they are physically tired, sick, frustrated, anxious, etc.

12. ASK THE HEARING IMPAIRED PERSON IF HE UNDERSTANDS YOU AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR HIM OR HER.