When you meet someone with hearing loss, you probably don’t notice right away, especially if they choose not to tell you. Hearing loss is often misunderstood partly because of its ‘invisible’ nature. People might assume that living with this condition is not a struggle, especially if a person wears hearing aids. But this is not the case.
Communication can still be challenging at times–even with the help of hearing devices. If you have a friend or loved one with hearing loss and want to understand more about its impact on their daily lives, take a look at this list of things people with hearing loss wish others knew.
1. “I’m tired.”
If you have hearing loss, listening requires constant effort. Hearing aids can significantly reduce that effort, but extended listening–especially when multiple people are talking–can still be an exhausting task.
Trying to deal with the lack of clarity in speech and sensitivity to background noise (often simultaneously) is like speaking to someone in a crowded room in a foreign language. It is often necessary to listen for keywords and try to guess the sentence or turn partial, incomplete sounds into words that fit into the conversation. Imagine doing this throughout a long, busy workday or at a noisy dinner party.
The task of listening becomes even more tiring because the conversation keeps going without a pause while the hard of hearing person is doing the extra work of figuring out what has just been said.
2. “I’m not ignoring you.”
Often, hard of hearing people rely on seeing people’s faces as they talk, so when a friend, family member, or a clerk at the grocery store turns away while speaking, it can be easy to miss what has just been said.
If your hard-of-hearing companion doesn’t respond to your question or the bit of gossip you just shared, remember that they’re not intentionally ignoring you. Never assume that a person with hearing loss is rude or intelligent enough to understand–they probably need you to repeat yourself.
3. “Hearing aids don’t restore perfect hearing.”
There is no doubt that hearing devices make hearing significantly easier. Still, they don’t restore perfect hearing to those who suffer from hearing loss. While glasses can transform a blurry vision of the world into a clear one, hearing aids don’t work the same way. Sounds and speech are amplified but not always clear, particularly when that conversation occurs in a noisy area.
4. “Don’t assume you need to talk for me.”
When you are out and about with your hard-of-a-hearing friend or loved one, there may come a time when you’re tempted to answer a question on their behalf. However, it would be inappropriate to do so.
Instead, ask the other person to repeat their question more clearly, or repeat the question yourself so that your friend with hearing loss has a chance to respond on their own.
5. “There are some things you can do to make the conversation flow more freely.”
Even with the help of hearing aids, it can be difficult for people with hearing loss to understand speech in certain situations, such as when multiple people are talking at once or when their communication partner is mumbling or facing away from them. With this in mind, there are a few things you can do to make conversation easier for your hard-of-hearing friends and loved ones.
- Make sure your face stays in full view while you are speaking.
- Speak clearly at an even pace. Avoid mumbling, talking too slowly or quickly, or shouting.
- If your conversation partner doesn’t understand you the first time, try rephrasing your words rather than repeating yourself.
- Make sure to have your friend’s attention before speaking. A simple tap on the shoulder works.
- Avoid starting a conversation from another room.
By using these easy conversation tips, being patient, and speaking clearly, you can give the hard of hearing people in your life the support they need.
Questions about hearing loss? Contact us today!
If you or a loved one are struggling with hearing loss and would like to learn more about the benefits of hearing aids, book a free consultation with us today. We will be happy to assess your hearing needs, answer your questions, and talk about the best hearing aids for your budget and lifestyle.
