Tips for communication 

Speaking clearly and naturally

• Speak in a normal tone of voice. Shouting makes many words hard to understand.
• Don’t slow your speech. Speak at a pace that allows words to be clearly distinguished from one another, but not so slowly that you lose the natural rhythm.

Attracting the listener’s attention before you begin speaking

• Before you begin to speak, be sure the listener knows you want to communicate.

Facing the listener

• When speaking to someone with hearing loss, make sure they can clearly see your mouth – especially in noisy environments. Most people have a natural ability to lip read.
• Maintain eye contact while speaking.

Staying close

• Stay within 1-2 meters (4-6 feet) of your listener.
• If the listener can hear better on one side, try to stay on that side.

Using body language to emphasize your feelings

• We communicate a lot more than we realise through facial expressions, gestures and tone of voice.

Repeating and rephrasing if you are misunderstood

• If you need to repeat a sentence, try using different words that may be easier to understand.
• If someone with hearing loss walks in during the middle of a conversation, bring him up to speed on the subject.

Eliminating or reducing room noise

• Reduce background noise as much as possible before starting a conversation. TVs, radios, air conditioners and even other people talking can greatly affect a hearing-impaired listener’s understanding.
• In noisy places, speak directly into the listener’s ear at a suitable volume (not too loud).
• Avoid sitting near the street or near open windows close to traffic. When entering a noisy place such as a restaurant, choose a quiet corner instead of the main seating area.

Use these simple suggestions and you’ll soon find that good communication doesn’t have to be difficult. And remember – a little extra consideration and effort will go a long way towards helping the new wearer to get the best from his or her hearing aid.