This week is Hearing Awareness Week where multiple organizations aim to raise the general awareness of hearing loss and hearing protection in the community. 

For more information, visit http://www.hearingawarenessweek.org.au/

Communication requires effort from all parties involved to help maintain a successful ‘two-way street’ and difficulties can arise when information is lost during the conversation due to a hearing impairment. Individuals with hearing difficulties usually have to rely on their remaining hearing, assistive listening devices (eg hearing aids), visual cues/lip reading, as well as communication tactics and strategies to maintain conversations.
 
Below are some examples of tactics which can help make communication easier:

• Face the person you are talking to – reducing the distance between yourself and the listener will allow for a better speech signal and reduced misunderstandings. Make sure you keep your hands away from your face while speaking too as this can distract and make speech reading harder for the listener.
• Avoid talking too quickly – slowing down slightly and putting short pauses between phrases will allow you to see if you have been understood or not. If not, then try rephrasing what you said rather than just repeating it word for word.
• Speak clearly without shouting – shouting can distort the speech sounds and is often counter-productive. Over emphasis/exaggerating words can make speech reading harder as this can distort lip movements.
• Be aware of your surroundings – ensure you have good lighting so the listener can see your face clearly without any glare. If there’s a lot of noise around, try to reduce it where possible or move away from it.
• Avoid changing topics suddenly – ensure your listener is aware of what you are talking about when the topic of conversation changes. Try not to talk over other speakers or interrupt conversations half way.
• Be aware of your listener – unsure looks may suggest misunderstandings so tactfully try to clarify what the y are confused about. Occasionally you can check that the listener is still following you during the conversation.

 
Hearing loss is a natural occurrence and effects everyone differently. Some people don’t even realize they have an issue and it’s those closest around them that are impacted most. If you feel a loved one is not hearing as well as they used to, bring them in to have their hearing assessed. Appointments can be made with one of our friendly clinicians.