• Ensure the person has access to any hearing devices or aids when communicating with them or performing tests. If the person communicates with an interpreter, face and talk to the person, not the interpreter. • To get a person’s attention wave or lightly touch their shoulder. • Arrange yourself or the seating to be conducive to conversation, close to and facing the person and a light source. • Minimize background noise. • Keep your hands away from your face when speaking and avoid chewing gum or food. • Some people with hearing loss read lips to compensate, but not everyone can lip read. Slow your speaking rate and speak distinctly. Do not over-articulate or shout as this can distort speech and facial gestures. Interacting with people with hearing challenges • Ensure the person has access to any support person, devices, or tools they need to communicate. This might include paper and pens, letter or word boards, a phone or computer, or a device that produces speech. • Speak normally unless you are asked to raise your voice. • Give the person your full attention and give them more time to respond to questions. • Repeat what the person tells you to confirm you understand what they said. • Ask questions one at a time. • Pay attention to pointing, gestures, nods, sounds, eye gaze, and blinks. • Do not interrupt or finish the person’s sentences. Interacting with people with speech difficulties
• Speak in a normal tone unless you are asked to raise your voice. • Use a lower pitch of voice when interacting with an older adult in case their ability hear high frequency tones may be impaired. • Do not run words together. Avoid complex and long sentences. Pause between sentences. • Provide written summaries of conversations and specific information (e.g., the date, time, and location of a follow-up appointment) or instructions in writing. • If you are having trouble understanding what the person is trying to communicate, do not guess. Ask them to repeat, write, or type their response. • If you have trouble understanding a person's speech, do not guess. Do not be afraid to ask them to repeat what they are saying, even three or four times. It is better to understand than be wrong. • Ask about communication. For example, ask “Show me how you say [yes, no, I don’t know, repeat, I don’t understand, etc.].” The person may move different hands to indicate yes or no, blink once if they do not know an answer, blink twice if they need you to repeat what you said, or blink three times if they do not understand.
31
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs