Five Tips for Communicating with Hearing-Impaired Loved Ones
Hearing loss eventually becomes a part of the natural life cycle. People entering seniorhood experience some form of hearing impairment, making it difficult to communicate with others.
If you have an older loved one, they’re likely going through the same experience. In that case, you need to be more patient with them.
Plus, know the proper ways to communicate with them now that they have a hearing problem.
How Does One Communicate to People with Hearing Impairments?
1. Do Away with Background Noise
Background noise can make it difficult for someone with hearing loss to know what you’re saying. You have to make an effort to get your message across to them.
If you’re at home together, turn off the TV, the radio, and the air conditioning. If that’s not enough to keep background noise to a minimum, find a place where there aren’t many distractions. On the other hand, if they’re staying at a twenty-four-hour nursing care, you may want to ask for assistance from the staff.
2. Get Their Attention Gently
Have you ever had someone startle you unexpectedly? Of course, you have! It’s uncomfortable, right? It’s the same for people who are hearing-impaired. Startling someone is never a good thing.
If you need to get a person’s attention, you should do it gently. Try tapping on their shoulder or waving in their line of sight. It’s a lot easier and safer to get a person’s attention with a gentle tap than to startle them by accident.
3. Talk to Them Alone
You’ll want to talk to a person with a hearing impairment one-on-one, not in a group. If they’re not listening to you, they’re very likely not going to want to embarrass themselves by saying something to the group.
On the other hand, if you talk to them alone, they’ll have no problem saying what they have to say. It’s a lot easier to have a private conversation than a group one. Staff at a twenty-four-hour nursing care will likely acknowledge your need to speak privately, so you can ask them to leave while you talk to your loved one.
4. Speak Clearly
It’s up to you to speak clearly and keep your voice at a reasonable volume. Not only should you speak clearly, but you should also avoid speaking quickly. People with hearing impairments have a hard time deciphering fast-talking people.
Aside from your speaking manner, it would be best to consider visual cues. Strive to maintain eye contact at all times and use your hands to emphasize what you’re saying. Doing so can help people with a hearing impairment better understand you.
5. Be More Understanding
Remember to be more patient with people with hearing impairments. Your parents, loved ones, or whoever you’re communicating with may not hear as well as you. Plus, it’s likely that they’re not used to being in a situation where they need to have a private conversation.
Be patient and communicate with them as best you can. Not only will it make for a better, more comfortable experience, it will also make it easier for them to communicate with you.
Conclusion
Communicating with someone with a hearing impairment is a lot easier if you’re patient and try to understand them. Be sure to put in the time and effort to help your loved one recognize what you say. In addition, make an effort to go to a private place to talk. Chatting with a person who is hearing-impaired in a public place will likely lead to confusion and a bad experience for everyone.
The Best Nursing Care for Your Loved One
If you’re looking for the best nursing care in Morristown, consider Morristown HC. We have twenty-four-hour nursing care dedicated to assisting your hearing-impaired loved ones to live life comfortably. Visit our center today to see more of what we can offer.