Approximately 15% of U.S. adults have hearing loss.[1] When you live with hearing loss, everyday communication, whether you’re ordering an iced latte from Chimera Café or having a long talk with your partner, can range from challenging to near-impossible.
Let’s look at a few communication strategies you can use alongside your hearing aids to improve your conversations.
1. Face the Speaker
Visual signals, such as lip movements, facial expressions and body language, add context to what others are saying. Whenever you’re having a conversation, look at the speaker directly; avoid checking your phone or looking around the room when possible.
2. Fix the Lighting
Mood lighting is fun, but it’s not conducive to speech comprehension when you have hearing loss. When it’s within your control, keep the room well-lit so you can see the speaker’s face.
3. Don’t Distract Yourself
It’s remarkably easy to drift off when you need to be listening to what someone is saying. You might think of a related story or accidentally shift into deciding what you’re going to say next, rather than focusing on what the speaker has to say.
Most distractions happen automatically; you might not even realize you’re doing it until it’s several minutes later and you have no idea what’s going on in the conversation. Do your best to focus on what the speaker is saying, and nod along or ask questions to stay engaged.
4. Ask the Speaker To Rephrase or Add Context
Hearing loss affects some sounds more than others. Because you likely struggle with specific sounds, often consonants, the speaker repeating themselves won’t always help you understand what they said. Instead, ask them to rephrase or add context to their sentence.
5. Lower Background Noise
People with hearing loss often struggle to distinguish between like-sounding words when there’s a lot of background noise. Things like turning off the TV or radio and opting for quieter restaurants or bars when you go out will significantly improve speech understanding.
Combining the above five communication strategies with the amplified sound your hearing aids offer will help you enjoy clearer conversations every day. For more information about managing your hearing loss, contact Eastern Oklahoma Ear Nose and Throat – Yale Office today.
[1] National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (n.d.). Quick statistics about hearing, balance, & dizziness. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing