Do you know anyone with a hearing loss?

As a friend or family member of someone with a hearing loss, you can take many steps to prevent the hearing loss from creating unnecessary problems.

A reduction in hearing ability is a loss, but you can reduce the loss by helping the hearing impaired person look at himself or herself as a whole person with resources and personality. Many people with hearing loss need to have their self-respect strengthened.

Maybe you also have to learn to accept that one close to you has hearing difficulties. Do not feel embarrassed if they do not react as other people. Respect their feelings and wishes, and discuss where and how you can help.

Modern technology helps in many - but not all - ways

Modern, sophisticated hearing aids make the most of remaining hearing ability, but the user may still have difficulty hearing certain words and thus understanding what is being said.

Just “listening” requires energy and resources of the person with hearing loss. It is tiring for all parties if many things have to be repeated or if misunderstandings prevent a sensible dialogue.

You can help minimise the efforts by following the advice on how to optimise communication with people with hearing loss given on this page.

Communicating with a person with hearing loss Never speak with your back to the person. Be close to the person when you communicate. The volume level is reduced by half when the distance is doubled, and an increase of the distance of just a few metres can prevent the message from being understood. Make eye contact. When you address a hearing aid user in a room where others are present, say the person’s name. Speak clearly and slowly – without shouting. The problem is usually not the volume of your voice, but the articulation of your words. Misunderstanding just a single word can cause the meaning to be lost. In such situations it can be a good idea to rephrase your sentences, instead of repeating them. Do not say: ‘Never mind’. Such a response can give the person with hearing loss low self-esteem.		Attend a course on total communication At the course you can learn more about lip-reading, sign language, mimics, gestures, body language and hearing tactics. Bring family or close friends to the course. It is a positive signal to send that you are willing to spend some time learning to communicate successfully with the person who has a hearing loss. Please notice that this type of course may not be offered everywhere. A person with hearing loss may need professional help Psychologist A psychologist can help hearing impaired people live the best possible life with a hearing loss. Help to find the appropriate assistive listening devices Read more about hearing aids As a friend or family member of a person with hearing loss you can help them find the most suitable assistive listening devices.