Communication requires a talker and a listener. Researchers have studied the talker element of the communication equation and have found some results that help improve understanding and that both talkers and listeners can use. If you have a hearing loss, please share these tips with the important people in your life. If you converse with someone with hearing loss, then you can take advantage of several strategies to help make the process of communication smoother.
Communication requires a talker and a listener. When a person with hearing loss enters a situation in which she must communicate, she is at a disadvantage when listening. She has difficulty hearing soft sounds and the sounds she does hear may be distorted. Hearing aids and implantable hearing devices, such as cochlear implants, have done much to connect people with hearing loss to the world around them, but it is not always a perfect solution and difficulties may still remain.
Researchers have studied the talker element of the communication equation. The fundamental question: “Is there some way of talking that helps those with hearing loss understand?” They have found some simple strategies that help improve understanding and that both talkers and listeners can use.
If you have a hearing loss, please share these tips with the important people in your life.
If you converse with someone with hearing loss, then you can take advantage of several strategies to help make the process of communication smoother.
Stress clarity
When a person focuses on speaking clearly, the individual does several things. The most obvious is that pronunciation is more accurate. Additionally, one tends to speak more slowly when emphasizing clarity as well as speak more loudly and stress key words. Don’t try to slow down as if one is being put into slow motion. This just makes speech sound more unnatural! Shouting doesn’t always help either, especially if the listener has properly fit hearing aids.
Add pauses
By simply adding pauses to speech, one slows things down and adds emphasis. This is actually a common tool in public speaking. Adding a pause after an important word lets the listener digest the information before the talker moves to the next piece of information.
Talk face-to-face
Most people have some skill in reading lips. That is not to say that everyone is fluent, but seeing a person’s mouth has been shown to help communication. So, don’t try to converse from a different room or with your back turned. Make sure that the lighting is appropriate so that the talker’s mouth is visible to the listener.
Stay on one topic at a time
One thing that trips up people with hearing loss is a sudden change in topic. The human mind is great a using context to fill in the blanks. So that is why when there’s a sudden shift in context (such as changing the topic), people with hearing loss don’t always follow that shift. If a new topic comes up, introduce the topic to make sure that the listener is on the same page.
Reduce background noise
Background noise is a very common difficulty for those with hearing loss. That background noise overlaps with the talker and makes listening more difficult. It can be especially difficult if you are out, but if you are at home there are some simple strategies that can help. Turning off the television or closing any open windows can reduce background noise. Moving closer makes the voice louder than the background noise, too. Another solution is to also find a quieter place to talk.
These are just a few tips that can help everyone in the process of communication. By following these suggestions, you can more easily share meaningful conversation even if your loved one has hearing loss.