subject: Communication Strategies For The Hearing Impaired [print this page] Communication strategies are available to aid those with hearing loss. Communication is an important way for thoughts, ideas, and feelings to be expressed to one another. For all people, regardless of hearing sensitivity, a breakdown in communication is common. It is easy to miss bits of information that can prove to be crucial to the conversation. This is to an even greater extent for those suffering from hearing impairment. Continual breakdowns can cause the person to feel defeated, anxious, frustrated, angry, and embarrassed.
Fortunately, there are some simple strategies available to help minimize the communication breakdown or repair the breakdown. Some strategies can be used in advance, prior to any breakdown in communication. Thinking ahead about a known listening situation may help to determine paths to minimize any issues. Be upfront about your hearing impairment; let your conversational partner know about your loss.
This knowledge may lead the speaker to use more care with speech, making it clearer and louder to understand more easily. Find the best seat at church, meetings, class, restaurants, etc. Sitting more central to the speaker may place you in a more effective position for understanding. When possible, eliminate all distractions (e.g., turning down or off the background music) prior to communicating.
Unfortunately, not all situations can be taken care of in advance. It is then important for the hearing impaired person to use what they have. The person must advocate for themselves. Require good conversation skills of the person you are communicating with. If necessary, ask them to slow their speech, turn to face you, and not cover their mouth.
Use what youve got. Let the person you are speaking with know what you do hear, so they do not feel as though you are not listening. Repeat parts of the conversation followed by a question (e.g., You said you were going where after you did your laundry?). This allows the partner to feel included, and reinforces what you did hear. Do not forget to consider body and facial language and expressions.
If a breakdown has already occurred, and the previous strategies have not worked, do not panic. There are ways to repair the conversation. Simply asking for repetition or rewording what was said can help. If necessary ask the person to write down what is said. This step is used perhaps most frequently. However, when possible, correcting the situation prior to the breakdown is more desirable.
