Tips for Conversing with a Hearing Impaired Listener

1. When speaking, be sure that you face the listener.

2. Do not speak to the hearing impaired person from another room or from behind a newspaper.

3. Speak clearly and distinctly, perhaps at a somewhat slower rate of speech.

4. Do not force the person to listen to you in a noisy environment. This type of situation can be challenging for normal hearers; it is extremely difficult for the hearing impaired.

5. Do not over articulate: i.e., do not move your lips more than normal. This adds distortion rather than clarity to speech.

6. If the person does not understand, rephrase the statement.

7. Arrange furniture in the room where communication occurs in such a way that no one is more that six to eight feet apart and everyone can be seen clearly.

8. In meetings or group activities, insist that speakers use microphones and/or assistive listening devices. Help the hearing impaired person seat him or herself in a location that allows him or her to both see and hear the speaker.

9. Never speak directly into a person's ear! It prevents the hearing impaired listener from using visual cues to help understand speech. Yelling into the listener's ear may distort speech more.

10. Hearing-impaired persons often feel isolated; include them in conversations, especially those pertaining to him or her.

For more information about your hearing, hearing assistance and conservation, call the Camino Medical Group Audiology Department at 650-934-7900.
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