Communicating with People who have Hearing Loss

According to Statistics Canada, more than one million adults across Canada reported having a hearing-related disability. This number is 50% greater than the number of people reporting problems with their eyesight (StatsCan, 2002). With this many people reporting some type of hearing loss, it leaves friends and family asking the question…. How can I effectively communicate with someone who has a hearing loss?

Difficulty following conversations, especially in groups or in environments with a lot of background noise, can be very challenging for someone with a hearing loss. Unfortunately, people with a hearing loss often withdraw from the conversation or avoid these events all together. Here are a couple of tips to help facilitate conversations with someone who has a hearing loss:

Tips for the talker

• Make sure you are face to face and close to the person. Look at them while speaking.
• Speak at a slightly louder volume. Don’t shout…it distorts the sound.
• One-on-one conversations are much easier! Avoid having important conversations with a group of people.
• For group conversations make sure only one person speaks at a time.
• Repeat or rephrase if they do not hear you the first time
• Avoid eating, chewing gum, or covering your face when speaking to them – it can distort the sound
• Avoid rapid topic changes – this can make it difficult to follow the conversation
• Keep your message short, simple, and to the point

Tips for the person with the hearing loss

• Advocate for yourself! Let people know you have a hearing loss and what they can do to make it easier for you to understand
• Pay attention to the ‘non-verbal cues’ (facial expression, gestures)
• Let the person know exactly what you did not understand (e.g. ‘I missed the last word’) instead of just saying ‘what?’
• Use any hearing devices you have (hearing aid, FM system etc)

Tips to create a good listening environment

•  NO background noise! Turn off the radio, tv, etc.
•  Sit close to the person you are speaking with
•  Communication is easier in well lit, distraction free environments
•  If conversing in loud environments, for example, a restaurant: try to choose a quiet restaurant, request a table in a quiet area (e.g. away from the kitchen, big groups, washrooms) and use the ‘one person speaking at a time’ rule.

If you, or someone you love, suspect they have a hearing loss, consult an audiologist. And always remember, despite any challenges you may experience, there is always a way to laugh, have fun, and make the most out of your interactions!

Carla Montgomery, M.H.Sc. SLP(C)
Speech-Language Pathologist, Reg. CASLPO

The Speech Therapy Centres of Canada

www.speechtherapycentres.com

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20/20 Interview tonight

Diane Sawyer will be interviewing Gabby Gifford and her husband Mark Kelley on 20/20 tonight at 10.
Clips of this incredible interview include the role of the S-LP and
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The Speech Therapy Centres of Canada

www.speechtherapycentres.ca

 

Social Communication – What does it Really Mean?

Think back to a recent cocktail party you attended with distant relatives or unfamiliar co-workers in a new job setting…did you dread getting ready for the event? Did you feel awkward trying to start a conversation with your distant Aunt? Did you feel your heart pounding faster and harder as your new boss approached? Welcome to the world of many adolescents and adults, especially those on the Autism Spectrum or with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Similar to those cocktail parties, social settings that require conversing, initiating  and keeping conversations going can lead to feelings of anxiety, anger, confusion and even depression.

At the center of all our interactions lies the foundation of communication: to flourish academically, to build successful friendships, to develop professional relationships, and to create intimate bonds with our partners. However, the fundamental requirements of successful social communication are far from basic.  One must have: the motivation to interact, be aware of their surroundings and how to modify them appropriately (eliminate distractions), recognize their own intentions, have the flexibility to shift perspectives, understand the “hidden”
social conventions appropriate to different contexts, and formulate their  response in an organized manner.

A Speech-Language Pathologist works with individuals who have difficulties with social communication using a one-on-one direct model, or through group programs. You start increasing your or your child’s communicative competence by:

• Anticipating topics and/or vocabulary that will come up during the social interaction. Predicting conversational topics allows you to prepare ahead of time and thus increase your social confidence. E.g., if you or your child is going to a sports event;
  research about the teams, rules, scores, and players or if you will be attending a work conference; read about the lectures ahead of time and familiarize yourself with the content of the day.
• Using ice breakers that you find helpful in starting conversations, such as “it’s a beautiful day today” or “how is your day going?”
• Practicing the tricky skill of making small talk. You can do this in the car on the way to an appointment, in a coffee shop or even at the dinner table.
• Using surrounding context to guide the conversation, especially when stuck on what to say next to keep the interaction going. For example, if you or your child are at a baseball game, comment on their favourite player, the uniforms, a great pitch. If you are at a wedding, comment on the bride and groom, the food, their opinion of the band.
• Shifting the conversation back to the speaker. Many clients with ABI dread answering questions about their accident or the details of their recovery. Instead of going into detail, briefly state how you are doing and then divert the conversation back to the partner, for example, “I am doing well, thank you. I heard you started a new job, and how is that going?”

These are a few tips that can help build communicative competence. If you are concerned about someone’s social communication skills, speak with a Speech-Language Pathologist for additional suggestions, recommendations and/or strategies.

Ashleigh Wishen,
M.H.Sc. S-LP (C)
Speech-Language Pathologist, Reg. CASLPO

The Speech Therapy Centres of Canada

www.speechtherapycentres.com