Living with hearing loss can be stressful. Nearly 1 in 5 people live with some degree of hearing loss so you may have a loved one who navigates hearing challenges. Hearing loss is a medical condition that reduces a person’s capacity to hear and process speech as well as sound. This produces a range of symptoms that can make it difficult to engage in conversations. From sounds seeming slurred or distorted, to tinnitus (a buzzing or ringing noise in the ears), communication can be tough. It is important to know that there are critical ways you can provide support, making communication with your loved one much easier. Practicing the following strategies supports effective communication and can strengthen your relationship:
- Grab attention first. Before starting a conversation, grab your loved one’s attention so that they are ready. There are simple ways you can do this like calling their name or tapping them on the shoulder. This provides them with time to make any adjustments needed so they are ready and tapped in before you start talking.
- Be visible. Another helpful strategy is to always face your loved one while speaking. Maintaining visibility is important because it provides your loved one with access to nonverbal cues. This includes body language, facial expressions, gestures etc. which we all use to help follow a conversation. These cues become even more useful when you have hearing loss because they help provide context to the conversation.
- Avoid multitasking. Though it can be common to multitask during conversations, this can really impact the communication with your loved one with hearing loss. Engaging in other activities like texting, cleaning, cooking etc. while having a conversation not only distracts from what is being said but it also provides extra noise. These activities can create additional noise the brain has to filter through. This creates more work for the brain and takes away from focusing on the speech that is benign. Be sure to avoid multitasking as much as possible so that you can be fully engaged and present during the conversation. This also allows you to better tune in and catch any challenges your loved one may be experiencing with hearing or processing what is being said.
- Reduce background noise. Another source of possible distraction is background noise. Background noise creates competing noise that the brain has to also process, creating more work for the brain. It is important to minimize background noise as much as you can. This includes powering off any devices that are not being used, putting phones in silent, maintaining low volume settings on any background music or TV, avoiding noisy settings like restaurants during peak hours, opting for quieter places, driving with the windows rolled up etc.
- Rephrase rather than repeat. A common mistake people make is to repeat what they’ve said if their loved one has not heard it. Though this seems like a natural and helpful way of responding, it can actually make it more difficult to understand what you are saying. Rather than repeating the exact same words, it is more helpful to rephrase. This provides a new set of words that your loved one may have an easier time hearing and processing. The way people experience hearing loss ranges and your loved one may struggle with specific pitches and sounds. So using a different set of words creates greater opportunity for them to hear.
- Speak naturally. Another misconception about hearing loss is that you can simply speak louder so your loved one can hear. This often means that people may project, shout, or yell but this can actually make it more difficult to hear. Adding volume can further muffle and distort sound, making it tough to hear and distinguish words. Rather, speak in a natural way, taking regular pauses between sentences so that your loved one can have time to fully process what is being said.
- Check-in. Another useful tip is to check-in throughout the conversation. Ask your loved one if there are adjustments or changes you can make, other strategies you can practice, or if there are things you can clarify. This provides them with a chance to share feedback and tips that are most helpful for their hearing needs.
Your support is incredibly valuable. Practicing these strategies can make conversations more accessible and useful.