Communicating With Hearing Loss This Holiday Season

By Hearing Professionals

Hearing Professionals Inc.

. http://www.hearing-professionals.com/

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Communicating With Hearing Loss This Holiday Season

Imagine the entire family and a few friends gathered in the dining room ready for a holiday feast. People are beginning to seat themselves, there are side conversations occurring, utensils are tapping and clanking, the sounds of last minute food preparation are coming from the kitchen several feet away, and you're speaking with cousin Dave from across the table.

If you have a hearing loss you're struggling to piece together everything Dave is saying amidst the buzzing environment resulting in an erroneous response to a question he's just asked.

If you know someone with hearing loss, you too know how frustrating it can be to communicate with someone who has unaddressed hearing loss.

But, try to avoid all the embarrassment and frustration on both sides of the table this holiday season by using good communication skills and strategies.

Gain attention. Approach from the front and face the person as you move closer. Don't engage in conversation from another room it sets up your communication process for failure.

Evaluate the environment. The noise level should be low and the area well lit and free of glare so you can see each other. Make sure there are no distractions.

Simplify your message. Stay on topic. Use familiar words and uncomplicated sentence structure.

Control your speech and motions. Slow down your rate of speech, articulate and slightly increase your volume.

Communicating with a loved one who has hearing loss (but is resistant to getting help) this holiday season may be an opportunity for him/her to realize the significance of his/her hearing loss and that he/she needs help.

Stop repeating yourself. Explain that you are allowing him/her the opportunity to realize the significance of his/her hearing loss. This doesn't mean you stop helping. When you start repeating yourself, let them know. It will only take a short time before your loved one realizes how often they require repetition (and your help). In turn, they will come to realize how often they depend on you.

Don't feel responsible for carrying the communication load for the family. Don't tell your loved one “he said” and/or “she said” when your loved one needs to be responsible for getting this information directly from the source.

Create a telephone reality. When friends and family are calling with “happy holidays” this season, stop being the interpreter. Allow your loved one the opportunity to recognize how much help he/she needs when communicating over the phone.

Creating dependency may cause frustration and anger towards the person with the hearing loss, adversely affecting the relationship.

When you and/or a loved one are ready to do something about your hearing loss, contact your local hearing healthcare professional.