22
23
Tips for Better Communication
Your hearing care professional will recommend an
appropriate schedule to help you adapt to your
new hearing system . It will take practice, time and
patience for your brain to adapt to the new sounds
that your hearing system 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
Tips for Better Communication
• Let others know what you need; keep in mind
that people cannot “see” your hearing loss
• Develop realistic expectations of what your
hearing instruments can and cannot do
• Better hearing with hearing instruments
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
