Tips for
friends of the hard of hearing:
A
hearing loss can cause isolation if people with
hearing loss and those surrounding them permit it.
Many people who are hard of hearing wear
hearing aids, and many people who are profoundly
deaf wear aids or a cochlear implant. Keep in
mind that some do not use and cannot benefit from
these devices.
Remember that a hearing aid is just an aid to
hearing, an electronic device for amplifying
sound. It does not restore normal hearing. It
amplifies sound - all sound (noise as well as
speech). Consequently, the person with a hearing
loss has to learn to filter out the noise and
discriminate what is being said. This process
takes time, patience, practice and perseverance.
Face the person and have the light on your face (in
your eyes.)
Eliminate background noise as much as possible (i.e.
TV, radio). Move from the noisiest room to the
quieter room.
Don't hide your mouth with your hand or an object.
(Think about trimming that mustache and beard so
your lips are easier to read.)
Rephrase a misunderstood sentence rather than
continuing to repeat the same sentence. Change
the way you say it, not just volume and pace. (Rephrasing
can be just about anything: If you don't hear:
It's really cold outside, rephrase it to say: It
is so chilly! Or if you don't hear it's 5:30, say
half past five.)
Write down important information and directions
to be sure they are understood.
When traveling in a car, remember listening is
difficult. Look at the person to the degree
safety allows.
When going out to dinner, choose a quiet
restaurant that is well lit, where the noise is
not intolerable. Request a table in a corner, or
one away from music speakers. Suggest that the
person with hearing loss sit against the wall to
minimize background sound.
Large groups are difficult for people with
hearing loss. People interrupt one another,
conversation overlaps and it is difficult to
locate the person speaking in order to speechread
and get visual clues that clarify discussion.
Include the person with hearing loss in small
groups where communication is less of a strain.
When the group is large, take the time to clue
the person who is deaf or hard of hearing into
the conversation, the punchline, the context; assist the person when topics change.
Conclusion
Remember: a hearing loss can happen to anyone
at any point in our lives. It can complicate a variety of
everyday experiences. However, the challenges are not
insurmountable, and the rewards of good communication are many.
Everyone likes to be faced when spoken to, receive undivided
attention, and be treated with kindness!
Our thanks go to:
The League for the Hard of Hearing.
www.lhh.org/mhs/hoh.htm
Ms. Ilene D. Miner, CSW, ACSW and
Mr. Jeff Wax, CSWR
We like to acknowledge ABC Publications for the excerpt on "Tips".
| 
