Communication Tips
Good Listening skills can often make a difference between simply hearing words and actually understanding them. Here are a few helpful tips!
Face the person with whom you are talking
*Speech is read more directly from the front of the head
* Everyone can speech-read a little
* Facial expressions are an important cue in understanding what a person is saying.
Don’t communicate from long distance
* Speech-reading can’t be done from the next room!
* Speech is louder and clearer when you are 5-8 feet from the speaker
Turn off the Noise!
* Move away from the dishwasher, other people talking, etc.
* Turn off the TV
Allow light to shine on the face of the person with whom you are talking
* Speech reading is easier when you can see the face
* Put your back to the window and have your communication partner face the window
Use hearing aids if your hearing is impaired
* Your hearing loss is more obvious than your hearing aid!
* If your hearing aid is equipped with them, use the appropriate program or memory to
maximize speech understanding in difficult listening environments
Don’t be afraid to tell others that you have a hearing impairment
* Ask people to speak slowly and clearly
* Ask people not to cover their mouths with their hands when speaking
Be a good consumer
* Don’t be taken in by hearing aid advertising that is “too good to be true”
* Know your legal rights when purchasing hearing aids
* Expect good service after being fitted with hearing aids
* Do your part to adjust to hearing aid use
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