03 9037 7010We’ve put together some of our best communication strategies that both communication partners can use to aid in effective conversation despite hearing loss.
Hearing loss has a significant social impact on the person with hearing loss as well as their partners. Frustration and tension between hearing impaired people and their partners are closely related to the changes in communication between them.
Conversation and spoken interaction are determined by social and cultural rules. When a person says something to another person, some kind of response is expected within a certain time frame. This turn-taking behavior allows for conversations to run smoothly. Hearing loss, however, disturbs this smooth “give-and-take exchange”. Hearing loss is therefore not treated as an individual problem, it is always shared and shaped by the sound environment and social context.
Often people with hearing impairment recognise that they can hear but they cannot always understand. The aural rehabilitation process is therefore, not just about making sounds louder so they can hear it. Coping with hearing loss also means being able to pick out the relevant sounds from irrelevant noise. Managing noise extends beyond the fitting of the hearing aid, it is also about exploring different sound environments and discussing ways in which people with hearing loss and their conversation partners can cope in those environments.
Successful communication involves a combination of hearing, processing, understanding, interpreting facial features, gestures and speech. People living with hearing loss can experience communication difficulties. For someone with hearing loss, there’s often a breakdown between hearing and processing that can affect understanding and response.
Communication strategies are used to adjust the communication situation to suit individual needs. Successful use of communication strategies can result in a hearing-impaired person joining in and enjoying the conversation.
People develop tactics to suit their personality. Here are some to try.
There are useful communication strategies that both listener and speaker can easily use to aid in effective conversation despite hearing loss.
Here are some common scenarios and solutions that may help improve communications:
In the home.
Creating a communication-friendly environment in the home isn’t hard. Consider these suggestions: Hard surfaces amplify sound. Improve clarity of communications by reducing open spaces in the home and introducing soft furnishings such as curtains/blinds, carpet, wall hangings, couches and tablecloths. These will help decrease echo and moderate sound. Rearrange lounges and dining chairs to suit your hearing needs.
At meetings:
At Parties:
At the cinema or theatre.
There are endless other scenarios where different communication repair strategies can be used. At Casey Hearing, we understand that every hearing-impaired client has their own unique story and needs. We carefully listen to you and once we fully understand your circumstances, we then work with you to develop a hearing solution tailored to suit your lifestyle, budget and environment. This includes helping you to develop and improve your communication repair strategies.
If you live in Melbourne, Australia, then reach out to our friendly team today to discuss how we can help you with your goals. We pride ourselves on empowering and supporting our patients to achieve their dreams by providing customised hearing solutions.
If you or someone you know has hearing concerns, we’re offering a FREE Communication Needs Assessment.
