If ever there is an important time to implement effective communication strategies, its December! It is the time of year which can seem a bit overwhelming if yourself or a loved one suffers from hearing loss. With the influx of visitors, music, dinner parties, lunches & bbqs- we want to ensure that not only are you not missing out on hearing what’s important, that your loved one’s are also on board to lend a hand.

Here are a few simple strategies that we have found can improve the communication between those with hearing loss and their significant others:

• Facing each other as you talk helps improve your ability to hear the words, but equally importantly pick up the non-verbal cues such as body language, tone and facial expressions.
• Making sure you have good lighting, so you can see the other person’s face, and asking them to talk slowly and distinctly.
• Creating an environment that makes it easier to hear. For example,
  • during a conversation, turn off distractions such as the TV or radio.
  • In restaurants sitting away from the front door and kitchen, preferably sitting in a corner
  • In the home closing doors, turning off radios and televisions when not in use
• Changing old habits that can interfere with hearing, such as calling to a spouse from another room, is also important.
• When you have missed a keyword or phrase,  try to request the missing information in a way that involves minimum disruption to the flow of the ongoing conversation, such as:
  • Repeating back
  • Asking specific questions that indicate what was heard
  • Repeating back or rephrasing what you thought you heard
  • Asking the talker to say the last sentence in one or two different ways
• Seriously consider getting assistance. Use this festive season to assess your hearing loss & talk with your loved ones about your options. Hearing aids are smaller, smarter and better than ever before, and today use sophisticated digital technology which makes them more effective and personal than ever before.

The longer people go without getting help for their hearing loss, the harder it is for them to relearn how to hear. The brain, where the sound is processed has forgotten certain sounds overtime and must relearn how to hear. If you or someone you know is suffering hearing loss, encourage them to take action today. If they won’t do it for themselves, perhaps they’ll do it for someone they love.