Tips for communicating with hearing instrument users.

Advice for people with normal hearing.
Hearing impairment also affects partners with good hearing.

Hearing loss (impaired hearing) affects approximately one in ten people in all societies. Although hearing loss affects people of all ages, the majority are people over the age of 60 years , and their hearing has gradually deteriorated as part of the aging process.

There is usually no physical pain connected with hearing loss, but there is a great deal of psycological and social pain. Poor hearing disrupts communication between people, and can lead to isolation and unhappiness for the hearing impaired person. It can cause estrangment from their friends, working companions and relatives.

Learning to hear again.

Using hearing instruments requires physical and psychoacustic adjustments, which take time. Learning to derive the maximum hearing benefit from hearing instruments, after years of imperfect sound perception, becomes an important undertaking for the new user of hearing instruments.

This is also a very exciting experience. New, high-tech hearing instruments and a new testing and fitting techniques make better hearing possible for most people with a hearing loss.

For every instrument user the role of family, friends, and co-workers is crucial, especially in the period of adjustment to hearing instruments. The new instrument user needs your support and encouragement.

Some practical advice...
1. Speak clearly and naturally.

Please don't shout. It's not necessary and it may overload the hearing instruments, causing distortion of your voice or even discomfort to the listener. It is importaint to maintain a normal tone of voice and to speak clearly and not too fast.

2. First attract the listener's attention.

When you wish to speak with a person who wears hearing instruments, you will be more quickly understood if you first attract their attention. You can do this by either, addressing him/her by name or by entering their field of vision, or by tapping them lightly on the shoulder.

3. Move closer.

Shortening the distance between the speaker and the listener offers the best opportunity for easier listening, and optimal speech understanding. Whenever possible, physically move closer to your conversational partner, especially if there is a background noise.

4. 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 particlarly important for the hearing impaired who are more dependant on lip reading to supplement what they hear then we are.

5. Take the surroundings into account.

Avoid trying to have conversation from one room to another, or in rooms with intense noise such as a washing machine, vacume cleaner, or loud music.

6. Be aware of performance limits.

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 acustic environment. Both user and hearing instrument have their limits.

7. Understand that using hearing instruments can be tiring.

When conversing with a new hearing instrument user, be alert to signs of weariness or inattention. Voncentrating on hearing takes alot of energy, and when fatigue interferes, he or she may not hear as well as you or as well as they expect to. don't force or prolong conversations if fatigue is apparent.

8. Restate your message.

If you need to repeat what you said, try ro use different words. some speach sounds may remain difficult to hear, even with the help of hearing instruments.

In conclusion:

With patience, good humor and understanding, and by also being a good listener, you will make an ideal conversation partener. When you follow these guidelines, you can greatly contribute to the hearing progress of your friend or relative, and you will be rewarded by seeing him/her become a skilled hearing instrument user who enjoys greater participation in family, business and social life.