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Communicating effectively with the hearing world.
Hearing Loss | Last Active: Mar 17, 2020 | Replies (27)Comment receiving replies
Generally the answer is to advocate for oneself in a friendly way so they know what's going on, People do want to help. In the grocery store I might point to my ear and say (something like) "Beg your pardon, I missed that, I'm hearing impaired. Will you please repeat?" When on a phone call with a stranger I will start by telling them (cheerfully) that I'm hearing impaired and I miss things when people talk fast, so please slow down for me. I've always received respectful and kind responses. In the course of the conversation if they speed up their speech and I need to ask them to repeat something, that introduction has already smoothed the way. Also when in a class or lecture I introduce myself as hearing impaired to the speaker in advance and ask them to repeat the questions and comments from the audience because I usually cannot hear them. I also place myself front and center in the room so I can see and hear the speaker, and if I cannot hear something I wave and gesture toward my ear.
Replies to "Generally the answer is to advocate for oneself in a friendly way so they know what's..."
@ner
Hi
Definitely advocating for yourself and letting people know beforehand about your hearing is the way to go. This has been a successful strategy for me for years and not always easy for people new to hearing loss. Since people don’t like to repeat themselves or they say the dreaded words “never mind”, I have found it extremely effective to repeat what it is you DID hear. For example, if someone says we are going to the XYZ restaurant for lunch and you got everything but the name of the restaurant, you could say Where are we going for lunch? or we’re going to what restaurant for lunch?
FL Mary
@ner, same same. Even though it' not politically correct, I also use the term "Hearing Impaired" so they take my requests to face me, say my name first, etc...seriously. If I say "Hard of hearing" they tend to not modify their behavior; and then get frustrated by my requests they repeat themselves. So, I self-identify as "hearing impaired."
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I totally like your way to communicate on the phones immediately letting them know you are hearing impaired.
I am definitely going to start doing that regularly.
As far as things like at the grocery store, I am going to try harder to communicate my hearing disability. I have just run in to a number of people that weren’t compassionate, and I realize that is not everybody. 😁. Thank you.