TIPS FOR TALKING TO THE HARD OF HEARING  

• Face the hard-of-hearing person directly, on the same level whenever possible.

 
• Keep your hands away from your face when talking . If you are eating, drinking, smoking, etc. while talking your speech will be more difficult to understand.

• Do not talk from another room !! If you must, make sure the person has heard you call, and tell them what room you are in.

 
• Minimize sources of competing noise. Mute the television, move away from the dishwasher/ washing machine, do not sit near the kitchen at a restaurant.

 
• Light sources should be shining in the speaker's face, not in the eyes of the hard-of- hearing person.

• Avoid talking too rapidly or using sentences that are confusing and go on too long. Slow down a little; pause between sentences and phrases; wait to confirm that you have been understood.

 
• Be aware of the possible distortion of sound for the hard-of-hearing. The person may hear you, but still have difficulty understanding some words.

 
• Speak in a normal manner without shouting. Words spoken a little more slowly are clearer than those that are shouted or exaggerated.

 
• If a person has difficulty understanding some specific word or phrase, try to find a different way of saying the same thing rather than repeating the same words over and over.

 
• If you are giving specific information such as time and place, be sure that it is repeated back correctly. Many numbers and words sound alike.

 
• Avoid sudden changes of topic. If the subject is changed, tell the hard-of-hearing person, " We are talking about . . . now."

  Jeffrey D. Russell, Au.D., CCC/A, Audiologist

• Hearing Aid Evaluation and Dispensing
• Audiological Evaluations
North Florida Hearing Services 1224 North Peacock Ave Perry, Florida 32347 (850) 584-3277