Prince’s Hearing Tips

How to help someone with hearing loss

1. Always face the person you are talking to which allows the listener to see your lips and expressions and have the best chance of hearing you. Don’t speak as you are walking away with your back to the person listening.

2. Gain the attention of the person first and let the listener see your face so you have their attention before you speak. Address the person by name, if there are more than two of you present. 

3. In a loud environment, this can sometimes be overwhelming. It may be helpful to touch the person lightly on the arm if you are struggling to get their attention. Stay close. It can be hard when even a small increase in distance can cause communication issues.

4. Ensure you keep a natural and clear tone. DO NOT SHOUT. It is usually the clarity of the speech and articulation, rather than the volume which causes problems for the listener. Speak in a normal, clear voice, it can be hurtful if you appear to be speaking in an artificial way. 

5. Try and avoid speaking from another room such as upstairs – you won’t be heard, instances such as this can cause confusion.

6. Try rephrasing your sentences – if someone has difficulties understanding a sentence after you have repeated it twice, try rephrasing it. Certain sounds can be more difficult to hear and often just misinterpreting a single word can alter the meaning.