50+ Lifestyles

How to Talk to Someone with Hearing Loss

By Ali Hunt
Audiolology Extern
Parker Audiology

Some common complaints people have regarding a loved one’s hearing include, “They don’t listen to me” and “They still ask me to repeat myself even while they are wearing hearing aids.” These situations are frustrating for both parties involved. The speaker may feel irritated for having to keep repeating the message while the listener may feel embarrassed to ask for clarification and upset that they didn’t understand what was said. It is important to remember that hearing aids alone may not help improve speech understanding. Just because they asked for repetition doesn’t mean they were not listening, but they may not have understood what was said. There are many factors that are involved with successful communication including the speaker, the listener, the message, and the environment. Here are some tips to improve these aspects of communication for those who have difficulty hearing.

The Speaker:
•  Get  the person’s attention before speaking
•  Face the person when speaking to them
•  Speak clearly and at a moderate pace, but do not over-annunciate words
•  Avoid covering your face and keep objects out of your mouth such as gum and cigarettes

The Listener:
•  Ask for clarification or repeat back what you think you heard
•  Pay attention to the speaker
•  Ask the speaker to modify their speaking style. For example, “Can you say that slower?”

The Message:
•  Repeat once, then rephrase if the message is still not understood
•  Use commonly used words
•  Use short sentences as opposed to long sentences

The Environment:
•  Avoid talking in an area with a great deal of background noise
•  Converse in proper lighting. This makes it easier for the listener to read lips or see facial expressions
•  Speak at a good distance (4-6 feet)

These communication strategies were provided to a couple who find it hard to communicate with an elderly member of their family who experiences hearing loss. The couple reports, “By turning the television volume down and getting Grandma’s attention before we speak to her, she is really able to focus more on what we have to say.” Additionally, the elderly woman states, “At times, it is still hard for me to catch all of what is being said, but I feel included in conversations when speech is slowed down and I can watch facial expressions.”

Ali Hunt is an audiology extern at Parker Audiology. She will graduate with a doctorate in audiology from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in May, 2016.
References:Hearing Loss Association of America. Living With Hearing Loss. Retrieved from: http://hearingloss.org/content/living-hearing-loss.
UCSF Medical Center. Communicating with People with Hearing Loss. Retrieved from:  http://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/communicating_with_people_with_hearing_loss/

By Dr. Molly Parker
Audiologist and Owner
Parker Audiology, P.C.

Dr. Alison Soto
Audiologist
Parker Audiology, P.C.

Dr. Molly Parker has been practicing Audiology in the Quad Cities for 17 years. She is the owner of Parker Audiology, PC. Call Dr. Alison Soto or Dr. Molly Parker today for an appointment at (563) 265-8003.