Valentine’s Day is February 14th, and perhaps you and your Valentine have some exciting plans together. If your Valentine has hearing loss, it can make communication difficult, even in the most romantic settings. Let’s take this opportunity to discuss communication strategies that can help you and your Valentine communicate better, on Valentine’s Day and every day.
Talking So They Can Hear You
With hearing loss, hearing diminishes by pitch, so your Valentine may struggle to hear certain high-pitched sounds, like birds singing or the phone ringing. Human speech also features many high-pitched sounds, especially consonants, making it difficult to hear what people are saying clearly. With this in mind, here are some things you can do while speaking that can help them hear you better:
- Do not shout. It’s a common misconception that hearing loss makes the whole world seem quieter; thus, you might be tempted to raise the volume of your voice to be heard. Do not do this, as raising your voice can distort what you’re saying, making it harder to hear, not easier. Not to mention, when you shout, it can come across as aggressive.
- Speak clearly. Think about enunciating, since those consonant sounds are the hardest to hear. Giving them subtle emphasis while speaking will make your words come across more clearly.
- Speak slowly and pause often. Slow down. Talking fast can cause all your words to run together, and jumping from one thought to another can be difficult to keep up with. Pause every couple of sentences to give your date time to catch up and process what you said.
- Face them directly and don’t cover your face. Communication is multifaceted, and people with hearing loss often rely on nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions and body language, to supplement what they hear. Make this easier on them by making sure they can see your whole face.
Listening So They Feel Heard
How you listen is just as important as how you speak, if not more so. This is especially important for people with hearing loss, as having a conversation can be awkward, frustrating or embarrassing if they feel like they’re lagging behind. These are common emotions for people with hearing loss, and you can show your support by being an active listener.
- “What I hear you saying is…”: Paraphrasing what someone just said to you is a great way to show that you’re engaged in what they’re saying. It shows your active participation without speaking over them.
- Do not interrupt. This goes for everyone, of course, not just when you’re listening to people with hearing loss. People with hearing loss can struggle with insecurity or lack of confidence in conversations, and interrupting them in the middle of what they’re saying can make those feelings even bigger.
- Face them directly and maintain eye contact. Just like when you’re speaking, it’s important to face the person you’re listening to. These physical displays of your attention go a long way in making a conversation easier.
Doing these things will also subconsciously encourage them to adopt the same listening patterns, which may help them hear you better, too.
Be a Partner in Their Hearing Loss
Throughout this article, we’ve discussed ways you can signal to your Valentine that you support them in their hearing loss. Another critical way you can do this is by encouraging them to seek treatment for their hearing loss with an audiologist. Research shows that people with hearing loss are more likely to follow their treatment plan if their significant other attends their appointments with them. Offer this level of support to your Valentine and help them have the hearing they deserve.
If you have any questions about starting hearing loss treatment—either for your Valentine or for yourself—call Gulf Coast Audiology today.