Doyouwantaglassoficetea?  Doyouwantaglassoficetea? Doyouwanta glassof ice tea?   SLOW DOWN!!  Do you want a glass of ice tea?  The person with the hearing loss that you are talking to simply can NOT catch all the words if you are speaking quickly or did not get their attention first.   For people with a hearing loss it takes longer for the speech to get to the brain and for the brain to interpret.  The biggest challenge with hearing loss is not the volume…it is often understanding words.  Today’s busy world with background noise makes it hard for speech to compete.  One of the most heartbreaking things people with hearing loss experience is being told, “never mind,” or “It wasn’t important after asking someone to repeat themselves.  Most people with hearing loss are not ignoring you…they truly are trying to understand you.

Imagine watching your favorite movie while someone randomly mutes every third or fourth work.  You can still see the actors speaking, but the story becomes confusing.  That is what at a conversation can sound like to someone with a hearing loss.

Now imagine someone pressing the fast-forward button.  The missing words become even harder to piece together.  Usually, if you are speaking to someone with a hearing loss then you are on your 3rd or 4th word before they know you are talking to them.  The previous sentence of  “Do you want a glass of ice tea?” May sound like you are saying something about pee.  You might have been in the kitchen and they were watching the news.  Literally, they didn’t hear any single words until “of and …..”. Pee…tee…me ….. then comes the dear in headlight look cause they don’t have to pee.   Or you get the famous “huh”, “what” or anger on both sides of this worthy conversation.   It is so important to get a person’s attention.  Speak at a comfortable pace.  If you need to repeat it then try rephrasing with different words.  For example: “I am getting something to drink… would you like something”. 

Slowing your speech doesn’t mean talking louder or exaggerating your words.  You are simply giving the listener’s brain more time to process the sounds it receives and fill in the missing pieces.  Imagine if you are reading a book and someone keeps flipping the pages every few seconds, you’ll miss important details.  It the pages turn at a comfortable pace you can understand and enjoy the story.  Our conversations with others work the same way.  At family dinners, holiday gatherings, church and restaurants, conversations move very quickly while the background noise never fades.  Speaking a little slower and facing the person helps so much.  Remember to pause naturally between sentences as this can transform a frustrating conversation into an enjoyable one. 

The nicest gift you can give someone with a hearing loss isn’t shouting…it is patience.  SLOW DOWN!  Help them feel included.  Hearing technology has made remarkable improvements over the last 46 years that I have been helping our community hear better, and those that do the best are the ones who utilize communication as partnership.  When family and friends speak just a little slower they aren’t simply helping someone hear better… they are helping them to stay connected to the people and moments that they love most.

If you are having difficulties hearing or understanding then give us a call.  We are here to help.  385-3497.  To Hear Better Is To Live Better.

By: Roseann B. Kiefer, B.A., BC-HIS