Shouting Won't Help

Do you know someone with hearing loss?  Shouting doesn't help.

• Look at them when you speak - almost all hearing-impaired people read lips. Don't lean into their ear when you talk. They need to see your lips.
• Speak in a normal voice and articulate as clearly as possible. Shouting won't help.
• If you are asked, "what?" or "sorry?" don't just repeat what you've said. Say it in another way - rephrase.
• If they don't hear what you have said after you have repeated it two or three times, don't say, "Never mind, it doesn't mater." To a person who cant hear, it dose matter. Write it down i all else fails.
• Always have the person with the hearing loss sit with their back to a window or bright lights, this makes it easier for them to read lips.
• People with hearing loss have a hard time hearing or understanding speech when it is noisy. Try to keep background noise to a minimum when trying to have a conversation.
• Don't talk to a hearing impaired person unless you have their full attention. Get the person's attention before starting a conversation.
• When in a group, try to avoid overlapping conversations; have just one general conversation.
• Give the hearing impaired person a chance to readjust their hearing aids after a performance, meeting or when changing situations. Sometimes they may need to change the listening program in the hearing aids.