For many people, the approaching holidays offer a chance to spend more time with friends and family members. For people who have experienced hearing loss, social events can be difficult, emotionally taxing, and isolating.
The following are some do’s and don’ts to help improve communication with someone who has hearing loss.
Do get their attention: Get your loved one’s attention before you begin talking. Simply saying their name or touching them lightly on the arm gives them the opportunity to focus their attention and catch the beginning of the conversation. Additionally, if you know they hear better in one ear, move to that side.
Don’t say "never mind": If your loved one asks you to repeat yourself or asks for clarification, don’t respond with phrases such as "never mind," "forget it," or "don’t worry about it." These are dismissive phrases and serve to exclude someone from the conversation. The person who has a hearing issue may even start to withdraw altogether from social settings if it happens enough.
Do face them: Many people with hearing loss rely on visual cues and lip reading to help them understand. Position yourself in front of your loved one in good lighting so they can see your facial expressions, body language, and gestures. Avoid covering your mouth or chewing on anything, as this can make it more difficult for you to be understood.
Don’t yell: Yelling distorts the sound of your voice and the appearance of your face — and it can make it more difficult for your loved one to understand you. Instead, speak slightly louder than normal. There’s no need to shout. Speak clearly and distinctly without exaggerating your words.
Do repeat and rephrase: If your loved one can’t understand something you said, repeat it once. If they still don’t understand, rephrase it using different words. Certain words or phrases can be difficult to hear so choosing different words with the same meaning can help provide more information.
Don’t exclude: Avoiding people with hearing loss or talking about them as if they are not present can be dismissive and isolating. Instead, make an extra effort to include them in the conversation by minimizing background noise whenever possible, acquainting them with the topic of conversation, and letting them know when the topic has changed.
Do encourage them to take care of their hearing health: If your loved one is suffering from hearing loss but doesn’t wear hearing aids, encourage them to schedule an appointment with an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist. If they already wear hearing aids but seem to be struggling to hear, suggest they reach out to their hearing health care provider for fine-tuning.
It’s never too early to start taking care of your hearing health. MTA members have access to hearing care through Hear In America, where members can save on the price of high-quality hearing aids. Call Hear In America at 855.252.7639 to schedule a hearing exam with a nearby provider. To learn more, visit www.hearinamerica.com/mta.
