If you suspect that the person you are speaking with has hearing loss, the following tips can help make understanding better and conversations easier on everyone.
- Reduce background noise, turn off the TV or Radio
- Gain the person’s attention before speaking
- Sit or stand within 3-6 feet from the person to maximize hearing
- Converse at eye level, this maximizes their ability to use visual cues
- Use facial expressions and gestures to give visual clues about your message
- Speak slowly and distinctly, note that raising your voice tends to distort sound and will sound like you are shouting
- Before conversing, provide information on the topic you will be discussing
- Use short sentences. Rephrase if the person does not appear to understand
- Avoid speaking into a person’s ear because this distorts speech and hides visual cues