Communication is a two-way street. Even with the use of hearing aids, good communication techniques are important. The following recommendations can reduce listening effort and improve conversation with individuals with hearing loss:
Face-to-face conversation
Avoid speaking from another room
Reduce background noise by turning down the television or finding a quiet room to converse in
Enhance room lighting to provide an adequate environment for utilizing visual cues for lip reading and written communication
Articulate sounds precisely and accurately
Speak slowly
Take clear pauses between phrases and thoughts. This gives the individual with hearing loss time to process what has been said.
Increase the volume of your own voice slightly and avoid speaking to where you are straining. Straining your voice can distort speech sounds and the way your lips move.
Repetition and rephrasing. If an individual has difficulty hearing a certain word, use a synonym for that word. The individual may not be able to hear certain speech sounds due to their hearing loss.
Closed captioning on television
CaptionCall and CapTel landline phones provide real-time captioning of phone calls on a display screen. These captioning services are paid for through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). There is no cost to qualified individuals.
Olelo is a no cost cell phone application that provides real-time captioning for calls
FM system or microphone accessories to improve speech understanding in adverse environments such as restaurants, groups settings, at work, or in the classroom.
Consistent hearing aid use
