{"id":1583,"date":"2022-03-02T20:00:27","date_gmt":"2022-03-03T01:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hscky.org\/?p=1583"},"modified":"2022-03-02T20:00:29","modified_gmt":"2022-03-03T01:00:29","slug":"9-active-listening-techniques-for-people-with-hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hscky.org\/9-active-listening-techniques-for-people-with-hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Active Listening Techniques for People with Hearing Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever gone on a long walk at Broad Run Park<\/a> and felt exhausted afterward? Have you felt the same sort of feeling after a lengthy conversation? If so, you\u2019re familiar with a phenomenon known as listening fatigue<\/a>. To combat listening fatigue related to hearing loss<\/a> and be a better conversation partner, we recommend following the nine tips below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Face Your Conversation Partner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Two<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You should try to avoid having a conversation side-by-side with someone or from another room. Instead, make an effort to face them so that you can better hear and read lips, facial expressions and gestures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Find Good Lighting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Again, visual cues are important. Having a conversation in the dark can be challenging, so try to find brightly lit venues for important meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Turn Your Good Ear Forward<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have one ear that hears better than the other, turn it toward your conversation partner so you can better pick up their voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Move Closer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ideal distance between conversation partners is three to five feet. If you\u2019re worried you\u2019re making the other person uncomfortable with how close you are, ask them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Concentrate on What Is Said<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to get in your head or find distractions when having a conversation. Instead, try concentrating hard on what ideas the person is trying to convey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Don\u2019t Pretend You\u2019re Following Along<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you try to bluff and act like you\u2019re following along when you\u2019re not, you may miss important information. If you feel like you\u2019ve missed something, ask!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Ask Specific Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s better to ask specific questions about what you think you misheard or didn\u2019t understand than simply say \u201cI didn\u2019t follow that\u201d or \u201cI couldn\u2019t hear you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Advocate for Yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nobody knows your communication style and preferences better than you. If you need something from your conversation partner, speak up. They\u2019ll be happy to accommodate you so you both get the most out of the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Invest in Hearing Aids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have hearing loss and haven\u2019t yet invested in hearing aids<\/a>, or if you have an old pair you no longer wear, it\u2019s time to call up your audiologist and make the investment in some state-of-the-art devices so you can maximize your communication. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call The Hearing & Speech Center<\/span> today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n