Communication Strategies

Loop, infrared and FM systems are designed to help with distance and background noise by providing a clear signal to the wearer’s hearing instruments. Establishments such as movie theatres, banks, churches and schools are starting to use these systems to support people with hearing loss.

Wind up the car windows to reduce road and traffic noise. If you wear two hearing aids, you can turn down the volume or take off the aid closest to the road (right) and wear only the left. This still allows you to communicate with other passengers. Reduce the volume of the stereo to minimise background noise.

Always use your hearing instruments at home. Wearing them regularly can help you get used to them. Tell friends and family that you have a hearing problem and educate them on how to communicate effectively with you.

Sit close to the signal source (teacher, speaker etc) and in the centre if your hearing is the same in both ears. If your hearing is better in one ear, sit with the better ear closest to the sound source. Enquire if a loop or FM system is available and use that to improve speech understanding. If possible, obtain an agenda or lecture notes beforehand to help with following the meeting or lecture.

Reduce the distance between yourself and the speaker, especially in areas with background noise. The further away you are from the speaker, the harder it is to see visual cues and hear speech.

If you have difficulty understanding what was said, repeat back what you heard, so the speaker can rephrase what you missed. Alternatively, write down important information.

Tell others about your hearing loss, as this can make them more likely to assist you in understanding conversation. Educate co-workers on talking clearly and facing you.

Good lighting helps the face of the speaker to be seen clearly, making visual cues easier to be seen.

Ask specific questions that require a yes or no answer. For example, “Does this bus go to the city?”

Background noise is one of the hardest listening situations to understand speech in. If possible, reduce the level of the background noise by closing an open window or door, turning off the television or radio or moving to a quieter area. Visual cues such as lip reading and other facial gestures help speech understanding. Bluetooth remote mics and FM systems are further options.

Using the telephone when wearing hearing devices can be tricky to get used to. If you have a behind-the-ear instrument, hold the phone up higher than normal, as the microphone sits above your ear. If you have an in-the-ear instrument, hold the phone normally. If you are getting any whistling, move the handset slightly away from the instrument. For corded, land line phones, use the telecoil program on your hearing instrument and position the handset to get the best signal. Accessories such as a specialised volume control phone, or for profoundly deaf people a Telephone Typewriter (TTY), help you use the phone more effectively. Contact All Ears in Hearing for further information and a demonstration.

TV listening devices help those who have difficulty hearing the television. Devices that work in conjunction with your hearing aid send the signal directly to the hearing instrument. Infrared headphones are an alternative to hearing aids for listening to the TV. The headphones will not interfere with the TV volume, so the whole family can watch TV together. Ask the staff at ALL EARS IN HEARING for further information and an in clinic demonstration.

When making reservations at a restaurant, request a table in a quiet location with good lighting. If possible, seat yourself with your back facing the majority of the noise. Hearing instruments with directional microphone technology work on the assumption that what you are facing is what you want to hear.

Visual cues such as lip reading and facial expressions can provide assistance with conversation. You can only get better with practice, so practice reading visual cues by watching TV.

Don’t be afraid to ask people to speak more slowly or to repeat what they said. If you tell them that you have a hearing loss, the speaker can be more understanding and aware of how they are speaking.

Accessories can help speech understanding in listening situations such as restaurants, meetings, lectures, telephone and TV. Book an appointment to see them in clinic.