What is an effective hearing environment?
People, as they age, can and do lose their hearing. It can be complete hearing loss or partial hearing loss. The affects of hearing loss can be quite profound and affect not just the person. It affects the family and all those that the person encounters.
You may not know that a person has a hearing impairment. They may be embarrassed or struggling with the issue. The person with a hearing impairment may be looking elsewhere or at the ground. The reason could be that they are concentrating on what you are saying. It could be that they need to stand in a particular position to ensure that they can hear the conversation. Body position doesn’t indicate that they are ignoring you. Never assume that a person can hear you.
So, what can the community do to make for an effective hearing environment. Is it a matter of physical considerations only or changing the communication styles as well? Let’s have a look at what can be done.
Physical Environment
The first area to look at to create an effective hearing environment is the physical environment. This is a really important area. Sound bounces off hard furnishings. It then distorts. External noise interferes with hearing.
Therefore, it is a good idea to use material that absorbs sound like carpets, curtains and other soft furnishings. Have plants in the room. If the area surrounding the room is noisy keep windows and doors closed. Look at the seating in the room. Don’t have large distances between speakers and listeners. Don’t put seating near noisy machines like air conditioners or washing machines. In other words, avoid noisy environments.
Conversation
When speaking to people with hearing impairment there are a few things to remember when providing an effective hearing environment. Some people with hearing impairment may tell you that they have a hearing impairment and would like to stand on your left or right side. They make request other adjustments.
Some things to consider are to
- Speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Use pauses in your speech as well.
- Consider the volume that you are speaking at as well. Don’t yell as that is sure to make things worse.
- Only one person speaks at a time.
- If you are speaking to a large group, use a microphone and speaker system. Test it before the meeting to ensure that the sound is clear.
- Always face the person and ensure that the lighting is good. This will aid those who lip read.
- Keep visual clutter to a minimum. You want everyone to be looking at you and or the screen. Not at the poster or something else.
- Use simple language. Avoid jargon or complex sentences.
- Use ACC – acknowledge, clarify and confirm. That is make sure that they are understanding what you are saying.
- Look out for visual cues that may indicate that people are having trouble hearing. Signs of frustration or confusion are good examples of this.
- Don’t cover your face. People that lip read are very dependent on being able to see your face. When it is covered information can be missed.
- Be patient and give time for people to process and respond.
Visual cues are very important to people with hearing impairment Ensure that you have written notes if the information is important. Use visual aids to reinforce the spoken message.
Other barriers
Barriers exist when a person with a hearing impairment wants to be part of the community. People with hearing impairment may decide it is easier to stay at home. Public address systems are often a big issue for the person with a hearing impairment. Think about the effect of not hearing a fire alarm go off. Or another form of emergency alarm. If a person in your area isn’t responding it may be that they can’t hear. Traffic lights rely on sight and some also use sound. Approaching cars may not be heard. The person with a hearing impairment may not hear the staff at a café so miss ordering food.
Digital barriers
Digital technology can be a barrier for people with hearing impairment. Ensure that video and audio have captions and provide a transcript. Talking on a phone is also an issue. Use text or email instead.
Education
An important area is education. If you have a hearing impairment, then it is important that you become an educator. Explain the effects on your life. Provide tips that allow you to be part of the conversation. Educate your family and ask them to educate those around them.
Conclusion
People with hearing impairment are a valuable part of our community. They don’t have the same style of communication as a “normal” person. What is normal? Remember that old age is catching most of the time. Everyone will have health issues of some sort in the long term. Ensuring that adjustments are made for people with hearing impairment means that you may be looking after your own future and ensuring an effective hearing environment for all.