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Whether you wear a hearing aid or not, there are several things you can do to improve your ability to communicate with other people. The following are tips
that may be useful.
What should I do about background noise?
Whenever possible, try to
reduce background noise. This will help you to hear speakers more clearly with
the least amount of strain. For instance, ask to be seated in a quiet part of a
restaurant. Sitting next to the wall and away from the kitchen or area of heavy
traffic will help as well. At home, turn the TV down when you are having a
conversation and it only is serving as background noise.
Is lip reading useful?
Yes! Even though we may not have
formal training in lip reading we do a lot anyway. By looking at the faces of
people with whom we are speaking, we can see many important cues. Watch
for facial cues, expressions, and gestures that will cue you to the speaker's
mood. Your eyes will help you to fill in the messages that you cannot
clearly hear. Keep the room well lit and have good lighting on the speaker's
face.
Know the topic of
conversation. If you can pick up a few words in each sentence, you may be able
to fill in the blanks. When you become "lost" in group conversations, try to
concentrate on one person who seems to be assuming the majority of the
dialogue.
You will have more difficulty with lip reading if speakers
have a cigarette, pipe, or food in their mouth. You may have to ask them to
remove the offending article.
How about speaking to someone who is in another room?
Do not try to communicate with a
person in another room. The distance reduces the loudness of the message,
especially for the softer high-frequency consonants that carry the major
portion of the meaning. You want to be able to see the person who is talking.
It simply won't work and it will be frustrating for both of you.
Where should I sit in public speaking events or theaters?
In public-speaking situations or in
places of worship, try to sit in the front of the room or near the
loudspeakers. If one ear is better than the other, sit with your better ear
facing the speaker. Many theaters and other venues now have assistive listening
devices available that are very helpful. Ask at the box office. You will be
able to adjust the volume for your specific hearing loss and probably will do
better than with your hearing aids.
Are there any other things I should consider?
If you cannot understand what is being said to you, ask the speaker to rephrase rather than just repeat the
message. You can also paraphrase the parts of the message that you actually
heard instead of only saying "what".
Try to relax while you are speaking with others. Of course this is usually easier said than done. But if you are
tense or if you are trying too hard, your ability to understand speech will become more difficult.
Be sure to let your family know how they can help you by asking them to:
Speak in a normal tone of voice and do not over-articulate.
Get your attention, and look directly at you.
Do not speak to you from
another room.
Rephrase messages if repetition is required.
Self Help for the Hard of Hearing
website
www.shhh.org
SHHH opens the world of
communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, education,
support and advocacy. SHHH has 250 Chapters throughout the United States.
The goals of their meetings are:
Education:
Promoting understanding of the nature, causes, complications, and remedies of
hearing loss.
Advocacy: Promoting new technology, medical
research, and legislation that will alleviate the effects of hearing
loss.
Self Help: Promoting self-confidence; empower individuals
with skills to improve their lives; and providing interaction among people with
hearing loss, their friends, families, and professionals.
Raleigh SHHH
Meets every 3rd Thursdays
Raleigh Regional Resource
Center
1150 SE Maynard Road
Suite 110
Cary, NC 27511
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