Helping You Hear Better!
TIPS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH THE HEARING IMPAIRED
- Make sure you have the listener’s attention before starting to talk.
- Speak slowly and clearly at a normal loudness level. Do not shout.
- When something is not heard or understood, rephrase, do not repeat exactly. Continually repeating the exact words may not help.
- Help the listener by providing visual clues. Look at the listener and keep your hands away from your mouth. Do not talk while chewing or eating.
- Keep the distance between you and the hearing impaired person from 3 to 6 feet for best listening and lipreading.
- Sit or stand so the light is focused on your face, not glaring from behind.
- Eliminate as much extra background noise as possible for better speech understanding.
- Remember that even with a hearing aid the hearing impaired person may not hear or understand everything you say.
