How to Make The Environment Ideal for Communication

There’s no denying the impact of hearing loss or impairment on an individual’s ability to carry out their daily activities. It can easily compromise their communication, which is a vital facet in social interaction, interpersonal relationships, and overall quality of life.

If you have a loved one with hearing challenges, you’ll do what it takes to help them rise above the situation. Apart from having hearing tests and getting hearing aids, there are ways to address hearing obstacles and foster good communication for the benefit of your loved one.

Here’s our guide on how to make your environment ideal for communication so that your hard of hearing loved one won’t have a hard time understanding and conversing:

1. Have proper lighting

If your loved one finds it hard to communicate at home, it’s best to create an environment with visual clarity. When it comes to this, proper lighting is the key. Whether ambient, task or general lighting, allow them to see people visibly and clearly. This is because they can simply rely on lip reading, facial expression, and body language due to hearing loss. That way, you can help with the amount of hearing they have left and boost overall communication!

2. Select a place with minimal noise

If you’re going to look for a room to converse at home or a place to communicate outdoors, then pick one with minimal background noise. Of course, this is the most logical step you can take when dealing with a deaf individual because they will find it hard to decipher messages in places with excessive sounds. So when choosing an area, go for a small room with carpeting, less sounds, and fewer crowds.

3. Have clear access to visual cues

Did you know that hearing-challenged individuals heavily rely on faces for absorbing messages and communicating? For this, make your environment or find a place where it’s easy to see everyone’s faces. As mentioned, individuals with hearing loss or impairment will resort to lip reading, facial expression, and body language for communication.

4. Be wary of some do’s and don’ts

Other than the steps mentioned above, keep in mind that there are also several do’s and don’ts you must be mindful of when communicating with a hearing-impaired individual. Here’s what you must be wary of:

Do’s:

• When starting a conversation, call their name or wave and tap them to get their attention.
• Sit or stand close to the person.
• Try to speak more toward the side of the ear with less hearing problem.
• Jot down important information, such as an address, phone number, or other very specific details.
• Avoid speaking over each other when in a group setting.

Don’ts:

• Cover your mouth when talking.
• Talk through a yawn or while chewing gum.
• Speak with your back turned to the person or from another room.
• Shout to the person.
• Talk about him as if he isn’t there.

Conclusion

At this point, you now know how to create an environment ideal for communication so that your hearing impaired loved one will feel comfortable and welcomed. All it takes is to have proper lighting, select a place with minimal noise, have clear access to visual cues, and be wary of do’s and don’ts outlined above. With all these in place, you’ll have the perfect environment for hard of hearing individuals that will make communication go smoothly!

Here at Fraser Valley Beltone, our hearing clinic in Langley is committed to delivering comfort and ease with every style of hearing aid. If you’re faced with a hearing loss or impairment and need hearing tests, get in touch with us today to book an appointment!