Julie Raney is a certified and licensed audiologist. She has a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Master’s Degree in Audiology from Idaho State University. She has worked as a clinical audiologist in Colorado since 2005. She specializes in hearing amplification for adults and delivers her services in both English and Sign Language.

Latest posts by Julie Raney (see all)

A Closer Look at Common Myths About Hearing Loss - May 7, 2024
The Impact of Pets on Emotional and Hearing Health - April 26, 2024
Strategies for Coping with Single-Sided Deafness - April 16, 2024

Nearly 48 million Americans have hearing loss, so you probably know at least one person who’s struggling to hear. Hearing loss makes communication very difficult, and your relationship may suffer. When your loved one struggles to follow conversations, they often face social isolation, loneliness, and even depression. Communication isn’t just about words, and how you talk to your friend or loved one can make a huge impact. If you want your loved one to enjoy a vibrant social life, here are some of the do’s and don’ts for accommodating people with hearing loss.

Do Get Their Attention: Never start speaking until you’re sure your friend is paying attention. If you speak to them from another room, or when their back is turned, they might not hear you at all. Get their attention by calling their name, or gently tapping them on the shoulder.

Do Show Your Face: Communication goes far beyond the words being said. Facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice all communicate things about what we’re thinking and feeling. Help your loved one hear you by facing them when speaking, keeping your hands away from your face, and avoiding eating or chewing gum when talking.

Don’t Talk When They’re Very Tired: Hearing loss can be extremely exhausting, and after a long day of straining to hear, your friend with hearing loss is probably very tired. Avoid having important conversations late at night when your friend is exhausted or stressed, and plan to have these conversations earlier in the day.

Don’t Shout: Louder isn’t better. In fact, shouting makes it even harder to understand what’s been said! When you raise your voice it will distort sounds, and make it more difficult for someone with hearing loss to understand you. Never shout, but speak clearly, and avoid speaking too quickly.

Do Take Pauses: One great way to accommodate people with hearing loss is to take a few pauses as you speak. When you get to the end of a phrase or sentence, leave a few extra moments before moving on to the next thought, and give your friend some extra time to process what you’ve said, or ask for clarification.

Do Rephrase: If someone with hearing loss hasn’t heard you, they’ll likely ask you to repeat yourself. Rather than repeating exactly what you said, rephrase the sentence or thought, and help them piece together what you mean with different words they may hear better.

Do Relocate: Is your friend is having a very hard time hearing you? If you’re in a place with a lot of background noise or other distractions, relocate. You can find a quieter room, or a quiet corner where they’ll have an easier time hearing you. Make sure you’re in a place with good lighting so they can see clearly, and watch your face as you talk.

Don’t Get Upset: Communicating with a friend with hearing loss can be frustrating, but don’t get upset. They’re trying their best to hear you, so don’t lose your cool when they ask you to repeat something, or ask for clarification. If you’re getting upset, take a break, and come back to the conversation when you’re feeling calmer.

Do Write Things Down: If you’re struggling to communicate, and some word or phrase is especially problematic, write it down. Your loved one with hearing loss can keep a pen and paper on hand, and you can quickly write down something they haven’t understood to facilitate an easier conversation.

Do Encourage Them to Take a Hearing Test: If your loved one has hearing loss, encourage them to take a hearing test! A hearing test will show them exactly which sounds they’re missing, and they may discover their hearing loss is worse than they thought. Offer to go with them to the appointment if they’re feeling nervous, and assure them they’re making the right decision.

Do Help Them Find the Perfect Hearing Aids: Hearing devices come in a wide selection of styles, shapes, and prices, and everyone can find their perfect hearing aid. Help your loved one determine which programs and features they’d like to have, such as background noise reduction, speech enhancement settings, or even Bluetooth connectivity to easily stream audio from their phone, computer, or TV right to their ears.