Listening for comprehension requires focus. That level of focus is different for someone with normal hearing than it is for those with hearing loss. People with normal hearing are able to listen passively – even allow their attention to wander, say to an iPhone or television screen – and still respond to auditory cues in the conversation. For someone with hearing loss, multitasking during a conversation means something completely different. In fact, multitasking frequently interferes with their ability to follow the discussion. They typically have to devote greater attention to reading your lips and deciphering cues and gestures.
Did you know: When speaking, a person makes approximately 13 to 15 speech movements per sound? Per. Sound. That’s like trying to read letters printed on falling snowakes. Plus, similar sounding words with letters like b, m, and p look nearly alike when spoken. So, words like “bike,” “mike,” and “pike” look alike “on the lips,” but are very different in context. Try it: Stand in front of a mirror and say out loud “buy my pie” and see how slight the difference is between the words formed on your lips.
[stextbox id=”black” float=”true” align=”right” width=”400″]
For someone with hearing loss, multitasking during a conversation means something completely different.
[/stextbox]
Imagine how much mental energy a person with hearing loss needs to spend, just to listen and stay up with a conversation. Sometimes people with hearing loss may not tell you when they are feeling tired. You can be proactive in your communication style to make it easier for a friend or family member to understand what you are saying, without having to work so hard.
Keep in mind, hearing aids and cochlear implants do not restore normal auditory function, they support hearing. Here are some tips for communicating with people who are deaf or hard of hearing:
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
Strictly Necessary Cookies | 11 months | These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. |