General tactics
People develop their own tactics to suit their personality. Some will feel more comfortable telling others that they have a hearing loss. It is not always required but can help others understand why you’re having difficulty.
Here are some general tactics for you to try:
- Suggest ways others can help you understand, such as speaking slower, looking at you when talking, making sure their mouth is visible while talking to you, reducing background noise levels during conversation.
- Positive reinforcement is always appreciated. Let people know that what they have done has helped your communication.
- Ask questions that require a yes or no answer.
- Ask for the information you need rather than a full repeat (e.g “What did you say we’re having for dinner?” instead of “What did you say?”).
At Home
- Always talk to each other in the same room. Although you may have been able to communicate from another room in the past, times have changed!
- Face each other when talking.
- Adequate lighting can assist in using facial cues.
- Reduce background noise such as TV and radio.
- Educate your family in what makes a communication situation difficult and how it can be improved. Don’t be discouraged if they need to be told more than once!
At parties
- Avoid the middle of the room – it’s usually the noisiest part of the room.
- Choose a quiet corner of the room and talk to one other person at a time or in small groups.
- Avoid areas of the room close to a kitchen or music.
- Try to turn your back to the bulk of the noise, eg. music, people, kitchen. Offer to help serve food or drinks to help you mingle around the room.
At meetings
- Try to arrive early to put yourself in the best position – next to the chairperson, in the front row, or in the middle of all speakers.
- It is useful to have a copy of the agenda to familiarize yourself with before the meeting starts.
- Sitting next to someone who is willing to let you use their notes can help.
At the cinema or theatre
- Arrive early to select the best position for good acoustics and vision.
- Does the cinema/theatre have a hearing loop? It can be used with your hearing aid’s telecoil setting, if it has one.
- Find out as much as you can about the plot before you go; this way you are already tuned in.
- Be prepared to miss some of the dialogue. Try to let go and enjoy all you can understand.
What’s in your home?
Many simple changes can be made to your
home to make it more communication friendly.
Think about these:
Hard surfaces & soft furnishings
Is your house full of hard surfaces? Soft furnishings such as curtains/blinds, carpet, wall hangings, couches and table cloths can significantly reduce the echo and improve clarity of speech.
Open plan living
Do you have open plan living? Big open
spaces can create a lot of echo and reduce
clarity – soft furnishings and partitioning
can help with this.
Seating arrangements & lighting
Are your seating arrangements ideal for
your hearing? Arrange lounges and dining
chairs so that your hearing needs are best
met. Make sure there is sufficient lighting to
see people’s faces so you can use facial
cues.