How to speak to someone adjusting to life with a hearing aid

Nov 30, 2012 in Hearing Tests

How to speak to someone adjusting to life with a hearing aid

Adjusting to life with a hearing aid can be just as big an upheaval for your friends and family as for yourself.

Obviously you need time to get used to your new device and ensure you are well versed in how to get the best out of it but those around you will also want to be of assistance too and it’s important that they know what they can do to help.

When you call in for a free hearing test at Leightons, we can explain, not only to you but whoever accompanies you as well, what the best practice is for living or being around someone who suffers from hearing loss.

This means that the chances of you being able to hear better without becoming frustrated will be greatly increased.

What’s more, if any new issues crop up, we’re just a phone call away.

Firstly, when speaking to someone with hearing loss, especially during the early stages of wearing an aid, it’s essential to speak with the help of visual cues.

This means putting a great deal of facial expression into conversation to back up what you are trying to say.

Similarly, other non-verbal signals such as hand motions and gestures can help too and, while this may seem a bit silly to begin with, it does get easier and after a while, chances are, you may not need to do it any longer.

As a part of this, make sure you speak slowly and clearly too. There’s no point packing your conversation with gestures and expression if you’re speaking too quickly. Slow it right down and keep it simple.

It’s also a good idea, where possible, to control your environment as much as you can. This means turning down the volume on TVs and maybe asking those around you to be a little quieter.

Obviously, this can’t be done in all situations but, where it can, this offers a real boost for those adjusting to life with a hearing aid.