Some people with profound or severe hearing impairment may have a cochlear implant. This is different to a hearing aid, which amplifies sound, as it functions as the damaged part of the inner ear to send sound signals to the brain. These work better than hearing aids because they can allow people to hear better, focus better in noisy environments and hear and talk on the phone.
There are many causes of hearing impairment. Some people are born Deaf and others lose their hearing later in life. Some diseases such as Meningitis, Lyme Disease and Diabetes can cause hearing loss. Other people may develop it through circumstances such as exposure to loud noises or head injuries.
There are around 10 million people with some degree of hearing loss in the UK, that is one in six people. Therefore, it is likely you will meet someone with hearing impairment at some point. If you are trying to communicate with a person with hearing loss, there are some things you should bear in mind in order to communicate effectively with them. Here they are:
Speak when they are looking at you
It is important that you do not speak until the Deaf person is looking at you so try to get their attention before starting to talk to them. If they are busy doing something, wait until they have finished and are ready to look at you. Make sure you have eye contact.
Keep facing them
Some Deaf people are able to lip read so they will need to be able to see your mouth in order to do this. Over-exaggerate lip movements and talk at a good speed, not too quickly or slowly. Do not turn around, turn away or look down. Always make sure they can see your face clearly. You will also need to stand an appropriate distance away for lip reading.
Check noise and lighting levels
Make sure the environment you are in is not too noisy as this could make it harder for hearing aid users to hear you. Also, make sure you are not standing in front of a bright light as this could make it harder for a Deaf person to read your lips.
Repeat or re-phrase
Check every so often that the Deaf person has understood you. If they have not understood you, try repeating or rephrasing what you have just said. It is more difficult to lipread a single syllable word so if you need to repeat or rephrase, try using a multisyllabic word instead.
Use sign language
If you know some sign language then use it when communicating with a Deaf person. It does not matter if you are not proficient or make mistakes, they will appreciate your efforts.
Write it down
As a last resort you can write down what you wish to tell them. Do not be afraid to do this if necessary. Writing or drawing can be a great way to aid communication. As long as you get your message across, it does not matter too much how you did it.
I hope these tips will help you to communicate with people with hearing impairment.
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