Tips for Better Communication | 35
34 | Tips for Better Communication
Your hearing professional will recommend an
appropriate schedule to help you adapt to your
new hearing aid. It will take practice, time and
patience for your brain to adapt to the new sounds
that your hearing aid provides. Hearing is only
part of how we share thoughts, ideas and feelings.
Reading lips, facial expressions and gestures
can help the learning process and add to what
amplification alone may miss.
Please review the following simple communication tips:
For You
• Move closer to and look at the speaker
• Sit face-to-face in a quiet room
• Try different locations to find the best place to listen
• Minimize distractions
• Background noises may be frustrating at first;
remember, you have not heard them for a while
• Let others know what you need; keep in mind
that people cannot “see” your hearing loss
• Develop realistic expectations of what your
hearing aids can and cannot do
• Better hearing with hearing aids is a learned skill
combining desire, practice and patience
For Your Family and Friends
Your family and friends are also affected by your
hearing loss. Request that they:
• Get your full attention before beginning to speak
• Look at you or sit face-to-face in a quiet room
• Speak clearly and at a normal rate and level;
shouting can actually make understanding
more difficult
• Rephrase rather than repeat the same words;
different words may be easier to understand
• Minimize distractions while speaking
