Internet search engines identify many sites that list articles and other
sources on 'Hard-of-hearing (HoH) in its various forms and the diseases' often
disastrous effects on their victims, including suicide. There 
isn’t much guidance in the media for the ‘normal hearing’ in the
healthcare world and generally on how to best speak to or otherwise
coommunicate with the hearing-disabled, especially in a manner that what is
'said' will be reasonably well understood by the patient. 

I am an 87 years old layman who has been hearing-disabled since my middle
years. Several years ago, guided by a retired professional speech therapist and
teacher who had been formerly associated with a school district, I compiled a
list of hints to normal-hearing persons 
who talk to and/or otherwise interact with the HoH. The 'hints' in my list are
in the 'public domain.' I compile and disseminate them as a personal volunteer
effort and not in competition with anyone
else's product on the subject. Content of the list does not - and does not
intend to - offer medical advice. 

Following are excerpts. 

Introduction

The population of ‘older adults’ is growing worldwide, and many of the
elderly are hearing-disabled. The HoH and deaf phenomena, however, affect all
ages and both genders, and children too, everywhere.  Interactions and
communications within and among families, friends, students of all ages and
their teachers, and professionals in healthcare, education, business and
commerce, etc., will develop 
accordingly. It is important for the ‘normal-hearing’ person, whatever
their interest, to understand 'how to ...' and to practice the best possible
oral and other forms of one-to-one and group communications with the HoH. If
nothing else, it's just good business. I've periodically updated and posted
these hints to the Internet. Please pass them along to others, on-line and
off-, who interact with hearing-disabled young, middle years and elderly, and
to the hearing-disabled for their use toward encouraging the 'normal hearing'
toward helping the hearing-disabled to understand what is being said to them. 

Hints and commentaries 

1. Whenever possible, face the hard-of-hearing person directly, and on the same
level. 

2. Your speech will be more easily understood when you are not eating, chewing,
smoking, etc. 

3. Reduce background noises when carrying on conversations -- turn down or turn
off the radio, TV, or other noise-generating devices. 

4. Keep your hands away from your face while talking. Don’t shout. Speak
slowly and distinctly. 

5. If it's difficult for the HoH person to understand you, find another way of
saying the same thing, rather than repeating the original words. Move to a
quieter location. 

6. Recognize that HoH people hear and understand less well when they are tired
or ill. 

7. Do not talk to an HoH person from another room. Be sure to get the attention
of the person to whom you will speak before you start talking. 

8. If practical, see to it that a light is not shining directly into the eyes
of the HoH person. 

9. (comment) I teach nursing assistant training at a long-term care facility.
Needless to say, we have a number of residents whose hearing is impaired.
Consider the following when you speak directly to an HoH person: 

a. A woman's voice is often harder to hear than a man's because of the pitch.
Make a conscious effort to lower the pitch of your voice if you are a female. 

b. If the person wears a hearing aid, make sure that it has batteries that
work, that it's turned "on" and is clean and free from ear wax. 

c. If you know (or if it becomes evident) from which side the person hears
best, talk to that side. 
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The complete list (28 items and growing) is freely e-mail available upon
backchannel only e-request to me at Gmld3805@aol.com. 

Mike Moldeven
(no spam, please)