How can I help a person with hearing loss hear me? Part 1

People with hearing loss often find themselves excluded from conversation and social gatherings. This tendency to exclude can often leave the person with hearing loss feeling anxious and depressed. If the person with hearing loss is excluded for a long enough period of time, they may start to voluntarily withdraw from family and friends. It is important to make sure to include those people you know with hearing loss in the conversation. This inclusion needs to be a conscious effort, as the natural tendency of people is to exclude those who may not fully understand what is being spoken.

It is important to find the quietest location possible to conduct a conversation with someone with hearing loss. When attending social functions or dinner parties, it is helpful to seat those with hearing loss in an area of the room with the least amount of background noise. Those with hearing loss may also want to sit as close to the person speaking as possible, especially in social gatherings such as weddings and business meetings.

When speaking to someone with hearing loss, it is important to speak with good lighting on your face. Facial clues and gestures are almost essential to those with hearing loss when they are trying to interpret what is being said. Many people with severe cases of hearing loss become excellent lip-readers and can often make out what is being said without hearing the exact words. It is also important to face the person with hearing loss directly and enunciate your words, as this will assist with their lip-reading interpretation.

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