People who are deaf or hard of
hearing use a variety of ways to communicate. Some rely on sign
language interpreters or assistive listening devices; some rely
primarily on written messages. Many can speak even though they
cannot hear. The method of communication and the services or aids
the hospital must provide will vary depending upon the abilities of
the person who is deaf or hard of hearing and on the complexity and
nature of the communications that are required. Effective
communication is particularly critical in health care settings
where miscommunication may lead to misdiagnosis and improper or
delayed medical treatment.
Proper communication requires the
efforts of all people involved in a conversation. Even when the
person with hearing loss utilizes hearing aids and active listening
strategies, it is crucial that others involved in the communication
process consistently use good communication strategies, including
the following:
- Face the hearing impaired
person directly, on the same level and in good light
whenever possible. Position yourself so that the light is shining
on the speaker's face, not in the eyes of the listener.
- Do not talk from another
room. Not being able to see each other when talking is a
common reason people have difficulty understanding what is
said.
- Speak clearly, slowly,
distinctly, but naturally, without shouting or exaggerating mouth
movements. Shouting distorts the sound of speech and may
make speech reading more difficult.
- Say the person's name
before beginning a conversation. This gives the listener a
chance to focus attention and reduces the chance of missing words
at the beginning of the conversation.
- Avoid talking too rapidly
or using sentences that are too complex. Slow down a
little, pause between sentences or phrases, and wait to make sure
you have been understood before going on.
- Keep your hands away from
your face while talking. If you are eating, chewing,
smoking, etc. while talking, your speech will be more difficult to
understand. Beards and moustaches can also interfere with the
ability of the hearing impaired to speech read.
- If the hearing impaired listener
hears better in one ear than the other, try to make a point of
remembering which ear is better so that you will know where
to position yourself.
- Be aware of possible
distortion of sounds for the hearing impaired person. They
may hear your voice, but still may have difficulty understanding
some words.
- Most hearing impaired people have
greater difficulty understanding speech when there is background
noise. Try to minimize extraneous noise when
talking.
- Some people with hearing loss are
very sensitive to loud sounds. This reduced tolerance for loud
sounds is not uncommon. Avoid situations where there will
be loud sounds when possible.
- If the hearing impaired person has
difficulty understanding a particular phrase or word, try
to find a different way of saying the same thing, rather
than repeating the original words over and over.
- Acquaint the listener with
the general topic of the conversation. Avoid sudden
changes of topic. If the subject is changed, tell the hearing
impaired person what you are talking about now. In a group setting,
repeat questions or key facts before continuing with the
discussion.
- If you are giving specific
information -- such as time, place or phone numbers -- to someone
who is hearing impaired, have them repeat the specifics
back to you. Many numbers and words sound alike.
- Whenever possible, provide
pertinent information in writing, such as directions,
schedules, work assignments, etc.
- Recognize that everyone,
especially the hard-of-hearing, has a harder time hearing and
understanding when ill or tired.
- Pay attention to the
listener. A puzzled look may indicate misunderstanding.
Tactfully ask the hearing impaired person if they understood you,
or ask leading questions so you know your message got across.
- Take turns
speaking and avoid interrupting other speakers.
- Enroll in aural
rehabilitation classes with your hearing impaired spouse
or friend.