Hearing Loss Tips

These tips can help improve communication with people with hearing loss. If you know someone who has trouble listening, practice these tips. If you have hearing loss, ask the people you talk with most to follow these suggestions:

• Talk while facing the person.
• Don’t speak too fast.
• Don’t mumble.
• Don’t hide your mouth, chew gum, or eat while speaking.
• Be expressive--hand gestures and facial expressions can help give clues about what you're saying.
• If asked to repeat yourself, try using different words than the first time.
• Reduce or eliminate background noises, like a radio or television.
• Don’t speak for or answer for a hearing impaired person when talking with others. Give him or her time to respond.
• Don’t shout – it distorts your words.
• Relax, be patient, and have a good sense of humor.
• Ask how else you can help.

  _Source:

  National Institute on Aging. Bound for Your Good Health. NIH Publication 05-7185.