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Hearing loss – how you can help
Hearing loss is one of those invisible disabilities that makes life more difficult for many
We can all make an enormous difference, by being sensitive to the needs of others who have hearing loss, and making some small adjustments to the way that we communicate.
If you have ever found yourself saying “Oh, it doesn’t matter” when somebody asks you to repeat what you just said, try and remember that it does matter to them!
It may help if you say it again more clearly, or phrase it differently.
Click here to go straight to tips for people who have difficulty hearing
Some top tips for better communications with people with hearing loss
Communicating properly isn’t difficult, but you need to be patient and take your time.
Some of the simple things you can do to improve communication with someone who is deaf or has hearing loss:
• Don’t assume that someone who is wearing hearing aids can hear perfectly. Ask them if they need to lipread.
• It will be easier to communicate if you pick a place that is quiet, well lit and free from distractions.
• Make sure you are face-to-face with the person you are talking to.
• Get the listener’s attention before you start talking – you could wave your hand, or tap them on the arm.
• Speak clearly, and not too slowly. Don’t exaggerate lip movements – it makes lipreading more difficult.
• Don’t cover your mouth with hands or clothing as you speak, otherwise it won’t be possible to lipread.
• Keep your gestures and facial expressions natural.
• Don’t keep repeating the same words if the listener doesn’t understand. Try rephrasing instead.
• Check as you go along that the other person is following what you are saying. Best to avoid jargon and abbreviations, and stick to straightforward language.
• Shouting is never a good idea. It’s uncomfortable for hearing aid wearers, and you will come across as aggressive.
• If you are communicating with the help of a BSL interpreter, remember to talk directly to your interlocutor, not the interpreter.
• Where you are talking to a group with a range of hearing abilities, make sure you include everyone, and not just those that you know can hear.
Communication is a two-way street…
If you suffer from hearing loss, you can also help improve the communication process. Here are some tips for making life easier:
• Don’t be embarrassed – tell the person you’re speaking to that you have difficulty hearing.
• Ask people to catch your attention before they launch into a speech.
• Make sure you aren’t standing too far away to see the speaker clearly: gestures and expressions can help with understanding.
• If you hear better with one ear than the other, position yourself to benefit from your good side.
• If you need to, ask the speaker to go more slowly and clearly.
• Try and stay relaxed – if you start feeling stressed about hearing, it will become more difficult.
• Nobody hears perfectly all the time, so don’t feel bad about asking the other person to repeat what they said, or say it another way.
More resources to help with hearing loss
Learning to lipread can make a big difference. It is something that you probably do to a certain extent without even realising. There are classes around the country where you can develop this skill, and learn about other ways of managing hearing loss.
Find out more on the ATLA (Association of Teachers of Lipreading to Adults) website. The link will open in a new browser window
We have an area of Independent Living dedicated to aids for deafness and impaired hearing.
Subtitle quality is essential for fully including people who are deaf or hearing impaired
There is an interesting article about hearing tech developments, notably radio aids and streamers, here
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