Tips to Communicating with Individuals with Hearing Loss
If you work with a colleague who has a difficult time hearing you, you do not need to feel frustration at all. Once you employ the tips blow on how to communicate with someone who has hearing loss, you can conversations will become easier and mutually beneficial.
Identify the subject of conversation
Firstly, you should always identify what you will be discussing. For example, you can start a conversation by “I would like to discuss tomorrow’s conference with you.”
Ask close-ended questions when speaking
If you are questioning a hard-of-hearing person, make sure your questions can easily be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” By asking close-ended questions, you can ensure what you said was clear or understood. However, asking the victim open-ended questions is not wrong in any way either.
Speak clearly
While it helps to speak clearly, do not exaggerate the movements of your mouth and lips. Too many facial movements can make lip reading difficult.
Do not slow down speech too much
Speaking slowly with a person suffering from hearing loss can come across as patronizing. Instead, speak at a regular conversational pace.
Increase volume, but don’t overdo it
It may be best to ask the other person how you can alter your speech for speed and volume.
Pause while speaking
It helps to pause as you speak so the person with a hearing loss can catch up with you and ask any pertinent questions if need be.
Remember the importance of body language and facial expressions
You need to be aware of how you are expressing yourself with your body and face. Individuals suffering from hearing loss rely heavily on visual cues.
What to do if there are still misunderstandings
Even if you follow the above-mentioned tips on how to communicate effectively with a hearing impaired person, you will find, in some cases, that some hard-of-hearing people will have trouble communicating. If so, make sure you do not make the other person feel pressured in any way.
Learn to practice patience. If the person with hearing loss still cannot understand what you have said, do not repeat what you communicated. Instead, say it in a different way or completely rephrase your sentences. Make use of visual cues such as gestures. If they still have trouble understanding you, offer to write down what you said. If the person does not want you to write down what you said, simply ask the person about the best way to communicate.
While communication can seem challenging, it is essential to day-to-day functions. Talk with your peers and the individual with hearing loss to come up with the best methods of communicating in one-on-one and group settings.