Tips for Communicating with the Hearing-Impaired
I am a member of the Saddlebrooke Hearing Discussion Group. In this month’s article I would like to briefly share some suggestions for communicating with the hearing-impaired. I have shared many of these tips previously. We would be happy to discuss these tips at one of our future monthly meetings. Meetings are a good way to share your experiences and make new friends.
My first tip is to “Walk before you Talk”. It is important to face the hearing-impaired person directly and on the same level. Don’t speak from another room. Don’t speak to the hearing-impaired person’s back. Not being able to see each other when talking is a common reason people have difficulty understanding what is being said.
Speak clearly, slowly, and steadily. Don’t mumble or shout. Shouting distorts the sound of speech and may make lip reading more difficult. Avoid talking too rapidly or using sentences that are too complex. Slow down a little, pause between sentences or phrases, and wait to make sure you have been understood before resuming.
Most hearing-impaired people have greater difficulty understanding speech when there is background noise. Try to minimize extraneous noise such as the TV when talking with your partner. If you are outside wait for that loud truck or car to pass before starting a conversation.
Restaurants can be a challenge for the hearing impaired. I find that I am better off not going to a restaurant with a large group. My wife and I try to avoid going to restaurants during their busy times. We like going to “Linner”, which is either a late lunch or early dinner (e.g. 2:30 – 3:00 PM). If we can we try and sit in a booth. Whether I am in a booth or table, I try to sit so that I am facing a wall. The microphones in my hearing devices are going to focus on the speaker in front of me, so it is best if there is no one behind that person.
In HOA1 & HOA2 we are fortunate to have several rooms with hearing loops. At the time of my writing this article, HOA1 is exploring adding a Wi-Fi assistive listening system in the clubhouse. Our group had the opportunity to demo the system. The system didn’t have any dead spots as we sometimes have with the loops. The coverage was exceptional as I was able to walk through the first floor of HOA1 clubhouse and clearly hear the signal. Some of the HOA2 staff attended the demo and they may consider this system for the Ballroom. I will share more on the Wi-Fi system in a future article. Whether the assistive listening system is a loop or Wi-Fi it transmits the speakers’ voice directly to a hearing-impaired person’s hearing device. However, when an audience member asks a question, it is important that they use a microphone. If they don’t, we can’t hear you through the assisted listening system no matter how loud or deep your voice is.
Our group meets on the 2nd Friday of every month at 10 AM in the Catalina Room in the Mesquite Building. For more information about our group contact Jennifer Jefferis, jenjefferis4u@gmail.com, or Lyle Larson, lllarson72@gmail.com. We typically have one or two Doctor of Audiology students from the University of Arizona in attendance. If you have questions about this article or would like to have your email added to our distribution list, contact me at tgaule@outlook.com.