Tips for better communication

You can see the lips moving and forming syllables but you cannot hear properly. Or sometimes you hear a roaring sound like that of a pouring waterfall, which does not permit you to hear anything. If these are your symptoms, then it is unfortunate but your hearing may be impaired.

Hearing loss, be it partial or complete is a crippling ailment as it prevents the affected person from performing his routine activities normally. It not only restricts communication with others but also affects the confidence and composure of the patient. 

Hearing problems can be easily remedied with ENT treatment which may include simple cleaning, use of hearing aids or even minor surgery, depending upon the patient's condition.

If a person has a hearing problem, does it mean he cannot communicate? He/she very well can with the help of these tips for better communication.

Tips for better communication for the hearing impaired

1. Keep people informed of your hearing problem

No man is free of illness these days and hearing loss is just another disability like any other. Do not be shy of informing people about your difficulty in hearing. It is better to keep people informed of your hearing disability in order to avoid awkwardness and confusions later.

Before a conversation, group discussion or meeting, inform people that you have a hearing problem. This will induce them to speak louder or grab a seat in the front or speak slowly for your benefit. Remember, you can achieve a lot more by keeping people informed of your hearing ailment rather than keeping it a secret.

2. Specify your needs for good hearing

You might be suffering from a hearing problem only in on ear. So specify to people which side you will be able to hear better. They can move over to the side where you can hear best and speak to you.  You can even ask them to change the direction of their face while speaking to hear better.

Unless you specify your hearing needs, people will assume that your hearing is fine and this will not help. Specifying your hearing needs is the best way to promote effective communication.

3. Ask people to be open with you

It is not only you who is uncomfortable with your hearing loss. Others too find it difficult to express to you that they are having difficulty in communicating with you. 

It is better to put people at ease and ask them to be open in expressing their difficulties in communication so that you can remedy them. Tell others that if you stare transfixed as if you have not understood a dialogue, it means you have not heard it and they should repeat it again. Use humour to get people to feel comfortable in communicating with you in spite of your hearing problem.

4. Use gestures to communicate

Non-verbal clues come handy when you try to communicate in spite of your hearing problem. Sometimes gestures and body language can express more than words. Use them rightly for the best results.

For example, leaning towards the speaker, cupping your hand near you ear for a louder tone or swivelling your hand asking for a repeat can help you to communicate without interrupting the other person.

5. Interrupt when you have to

Follow the conversation to the best of your ability. But if the voice is low or the speaker is fast, there is no harm interrupting and asking them to repeat or clarify.

6. Maintain good health

Apart from your hearing loss, keep yourself fit with a balanced diet, exercise and enough sleep. Even for your hearing care,  consult an ENT surgeon or specialist regularly.

7. Visit the ENT specialist regularly

There is no dearth of ENT specialists in India. Go for an ENT check-up frequently as new innovations and treatments can help you cope with your hearing problem better.

Do not let hearing loss deter you from reaching the pinnacle of success. Consult the best ENT doctors in Coimbatore to climb the great walls of victory.