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Hearing tactics is a dynamic approach to coping with hearing problems. It is a way of easing communication problems by changing the surrounding conditions. By knowing hearing tactics, our staff may be able to help a person who is experiencing difficulties to identify which factors can best overcome a situation. 1 - Position Where you place yourself in a room can have a large impact on communication. For example Are you sitting close to a source of competing noise? Is the light shining in your eyes or (much better) on the face/s of the person/s you are speaking with? How close are you to the speaker? Is anything obscuring your view of the speaker’s face?
2 – Creative repeats If you are having difficulty catching what has been said, repeatedly saying “Eh?” or “What?” can lead to aggravation and give the impression that you’re really listening. Try to be creative in the way you ask for a repeat – for example Use the information you did catch to phrase your question – This will lead to a smoother response and keep the conversation flowing. 3 – Waiting and thinking Sometimes just taking a moment to pause and think about what you have heard can help you to fill in the blanks and work out what you have missed. 4 – Specific questioning Asking a specific question like “Does this train go to Burwood?” will bring a specific yes or no answer. In contrast, a more general question such as “What train is this?” can result in a more complex – and potentially more difficult to follow – response. 5 – Silence and observation
Sometimes you can tune into a conversation by observation. A lot of our communication is non-verbal (facial expressions, gestures and general body language). You can get a lot of information by becoming more sensitive to non-verbal communication. 6 – Introducing a topic Try introducing your own topic into the conversation. It is generally easier to follow a conversation when you are familiar with the topic and relevant words and issues. However, be careful not to overdo it. People may not want to discuss a particular topic too often. Also, it's important to avoid talking just because it’s easier than concentrating on what others are saying. 7 – Let it go You can’t hear everything. No one does. Many people, when they discover they have a hearing loss, begin to become oversensitive to the things they can’t hear and often wish they could hear everything. Even people with perfect hearing don’t catch everything. 8 – Pen and paper In some situations, such as getting directions or instructions, it may be helpful to get the information written down so there is no confusion. Everyone benefits from writing down some information for example, instructions from the doctor about medication. 9 – Meetings Many people cite meetings as a major problem, especially when more than one person speaks at a time. Whenever possible, ask the chairperson to control the meeting so that people do not keep talking over others – there are bound to be others who will appreciate this as well. You might try to get a copy of the agenda so that you know what topic is coming up next. 10 – Humour There will be times when you will be “well wide of the mark” and may worry what people will think of you. When this happens, try to keep a positive attitude (remember all of the times you get it right), and try to laugh off mistakes. A positive attitude and a good sense of humour will make a much more favourable impression than if you withdraw and try to avoid conversation. Also, remember – everyone gets it wrong sometimes! 11 – Self-responsibility Do you take responsibility for your hearing loss or do you blame others? Are you prepared to state that you have a hearing loss so that people know why you may not be understanding them? People may think you are confused, but will appreciate the situation only if you tell them it’s a hearing problem. 12 – Monitoring your own voice Sometimes it is possible to change the way other people speak by adapting the level and speed of your own voice. A soft voice can sometimes encourage a soft response, but if you raise your voice a little and slow down your speech, it may encourage your conversation partner to do the same. It is not always easy to monitor you voice level with a hearing aid, so don’t be afraid to ask if it’s okay. This will make the other person more aware of his or her own voice as well. 13 – Posture Confidence, control, assertiveness and a positive air will give you a good start, as opposed to hanging back and trying not to be noticed. If you “stand tall” and look at people, they will usually respond in a full and confident voice, which will help you hear more clearly. 14 – Change and flexibility If hobbies or committees or other activities are becoming increasingly difficult to follow and enjoy, you might consider changing to new activities that are easier, and perhaps that give you a change to interact with people in smaller groups. Getting involved in new interests and activities also keeps the mind active and can enhance self-confidence. It may be challenging – but also very rewarding! 15 – Speech-reading Have you considered attending classes to help you ‘read’ other people’s speech more effectively and with less frustration and concentration which can be so tiring? 16 – Devices There is a wide range of devices designed to help people with hearing loss – in their homes and in the general community. These include attachments for the telephone, TV/stereo and doorbell as well as other devices, which aid communication throughout the house/garden. Ask your audiologist for more information. Better Hearing Australia also operates a Resource Centre featuring such devices. Individual advice is available by appointment. 17 – Be assertive Ask people to speak more slowly and don’t be afraid to ask for a repeat. A simple phrase such as “I’m having trouble understanding you because of my hearing loss, but I’ll be okay if you speak a little slower, thanks.” says everything you need to get across. It identifies the problem as hearing, not ignorance or confusion, and if you point out your hearing aids as well, people will see that you are doing something positive about it. Most people will know to face you when they speak to aid your speech-reading and other visual clues. If they don’t – remind them. Asking people to speak a bit more slowly is the best single instruction you can give.
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