Communicating with a Hearing Problem

Hearing loss is a difficult problem to deal with, mostly because it not only affects you but also those around you. Having a regular conversation with someone who has a hearing disability can be challenging and frustrating. Most of the times, people tend to avoid communicating with hearing impaired people out of fear of not being heard. With a little effort on your part, you can ensure that you communicate effectively, despite your hearing problem.

People with hearing difficulty are already facing multiple challenges on a daily basis. Hearing loss leads to a host of physical problems, such as dementia and even cardiovascular disease. Apart from this, hearing loss can be a frustrating experience in and of itself, with the brain constantly trying to struggle to make sense of the bits and pieces it gets from the hampered signals sent by the ears.

You may even find yourself becoming increasingly reclusive because of your hearing loss, since you feel left out during social gatherings. This can lead to psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, and paranoia. Over time, it can even lead to deterioration in your cognitive skills and result in dementia.

It is quite easy to face people and have a healthy conversation with everyone, once you own up to your hearing difficulty. There are several tools you can use to ensure that you get the most out of your social experience, without letting your hearing problem interrupt.

First and foremost, it is important that you take ownership of your hearing problem. This means mentioning that you have hearing loss when you begin a conversation. Rather than avoid you, most people would gladly accommodate for your hearing difficulty since the awareness about hearing loss has increased drastically nowadays. Let them know how they can help you out so that you can make sense of what is being said. If you find it easier to understand people when they talk slowly or enunciate clearly, let them know this. You can do this in a light-hearted manner and be casual about it. If you are comfortable about your hearing loss, so will others be.

Stay close to those you are having a conversation with. This will help you hear better and also give you a direct contact with their non-verbal signals, such as hand gestures, postures, and facial expressions. You will also be able to read their lips more effectively if you are situated closer to them and facing them.

Of course, the most effective way to communicate with others when you have a hearing problem is to get hearing aids! With the use of hearing aids, your hearing loss will no longer be a problem since you will be able to hear everything that is being said. It will help you reconnect with your friends and loved ones and give you the quality of life you deserve. Talk to your audiologist about scheduling a hearing exam today to see how you can benefit from the use of hearing aids.