Even with the best hearing aids, there will be times when you misunderstand what someone has said.  To minimize the frustrations that may occur when this happens, here are some tips both for the hearing impaired and their loved ones. 

 

Tips for the hearing impaired:

 

Watch the speaker

      Try to position yourself so that the speaker’s face is visible.  Even if you don’t read lips, watching the speaker’s face for expressions and lip movements will help add meaning to what you hear. 

 

Minimize noise distractions

      Trying to have a conversation with your spouse while the television is on and the dishwasher is running can be difficult – even for someone with normal hearing.  If you really want to hear what is being said, minimize any additional noise sources.  If you are in a noisy area, such as a restaurant and your hearing aids have directional microphones, try to position yourself so that the majority of the noise is behind you.  Not sure if your hearing aids have directional microphones?  Ask your hearing health professional. 

 

No bluffing

      Don’t fake it!  If you didn’t understand what was said – say so!  Pretending that you understand what is going on when you don’t can create awkward misunderstandings.  Ask questions and don’t be afraid to speak up. 

 

 

 

Tips for family and friends of the hearing impaired:

 

Make sure you have the listener’s attention

      Before speaking, take the time to saying the person’s name and wait for a response.  This can greatly decrease the need for repetition (and end up saving you time in the long run). 

 

Don’t shout

      Shouting can actually make it harder for some people to hear.  It can distort the signal in the listener’s ear.   Speaking clearly and slowly is best.  Pausing between sentences can also be helpful. 

 

Don’t repeat:  rephrase

      Quite often, the same one or two words in a sentence will continue to be misheard with each repetition.  Rephrasing can help eliminate many frustrations.  For example, if you are saying, “What time is your doctor’s appointment tomorrow?” and your loved one isn’t understanding, try to rephrase it.  “Is your appointment with Dr. Smith tomorrow morning or it is in the afternoon?” 

 

Face the listener

      Position yourself so your listener can see your face and lips.  "Lip reading" is instinctive to all of us, but it is particularly important for the hearing impaired who are more dependent on lip reading to supplement what they hear than we are.

 

Be aware of hearing limitations

      Never put the hearing-impaired listener and their instruments to an unfair hearing test, i.e. by expecting them to hear well in an unfriendly acoustic environment.  Both the hearing impaired and their hearing aids have their limits.