- Be willing to admit to a hearing problem
- Be willing to explain the problem to other people
- Be able to suggest ways they can help
- It is common for people with a hearing impairment to want to “hide” it from others. This may lead to problems when you misunderstand something. The person you are talking to may think you are not interested, not paying attention, or not very intelligent.
- One solution is to tell the person you have hearing problems: “I’m sorry, I didn’t understand what you said because of my hearing loss. It would help if you would speak just a little slower.”
Communication

Not just a hearing loss

The communication plan you draw up with your client will include a number of different strategies for different scenarios. The strategy below – also provided by Louise Hickson – is just one way for a person with hearing loss to address their difficulties to someone who may not be familiar with his or her condition.
Louise's example of a communication strategy:
It is important that family, friends, and/or carers are present when the person with hearing loss is working on their communication plan. Communication partners have insight into when a PHL is successful, and when he or she struggles to communicate. Communication partners are also key allies in supporting the client, and reinforcing the strategies.
Audiologists should collect evidence and testimonials of their clients’ successes with hearing aids and communication plans. This evidence will serve as a useful illustration for new clients who may not have a clear initial idea of what work is involved in improving their communication.
Bringing people with hearing loss together
Beyond GROUP AR, consider facilitating support groups for family members, or at least be ready to refer them to someone else if they are having difficulty coping with their loved one’s hearing loss. This might mean in-person support groups, or an online forum on your clinic’s website or linking to another established online community. The HLAA, for example, provides information on local chapters as well as online resources where PHLs can find support.
There is also the potential to run Group AR sessions online using Skype meetings or Google hangouts. The number of participants in each session can be limited the same way an in-person session would. This may increase attendance rates for those who are unable to attend in-person sessions because the meetings are at inconvenient locations, obligations at home, or limited mobility. It also increases the opportunity for communication partners to attend as well.