The First Steps With Communicating with Hearing Loss
Communicating with Hearing Loss: the few things that matter most, and the mistakes that catch people out early.
Practical adjustments that make conversation work.
Key takeaways
- Background noise: the single biggest obstacle
- Lip reading: used by most people with hearing loss, consciously or not
- Most useful single change: Face the person, in good light, and get their attention first.
- Commonest mistake: Shouting, which distorts speech.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Why bother
Most of the difficulty is environmental, and small changes by the other person help more than volume does.
Start here
Just these two to begin with. The rest can wait.
- Face the person, in good light, and get their attention first
- Reduce background noise rather than raising your voice
Then add these
The next additions, when you are ready for them.
- Rephrase rather than repeat the same words louder
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Background noise | the single biggest obstacle |
| Lip reading | used by most people with hearing loss, consciously or not |
| Shouting | distorts speech and rarely helps |
| Hearing loops | available in many public venues; switch the aid to T |
Common early mistakes
- Shouting, which distorts speech
- Covering your mouth or speaking from another room
- Saying "it does not matter" when asked to repeat
Where to go next
- The Evidence on Communicating with Hearing Loss, Without the Hype
- What Communicating with Hearing Loss Is, and Why It Matters
- Communicating with Hearing Loss — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Ear Anatomy and How Hearing Works, Without the Hype
- Hearing Loss: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
See a GP for any new or worsening hearing difficulty. Seek same-day assessment for sudden hearing loss in one or both ears. Persistent one-sided hearing loss or tinnitus needs assessment even if it is mild.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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