Communication Tips for Talking With Someone Who Has Hearing Loss

AudiologyOctober 6, 20265 min read

The most helpful things you can do when talking with someone who has hearing loss are to get their attention first, face them in good light, and speak clearly at a natural pace rather than louder. Reducing background noise and rephrasing, rather than just repeating, often make a bigger difference than volume.

Good communication is a shared effort. Hearing aids and other hearing technology can help a great deal, but they work best when the people around the listener use simple, considerate habits too.

Why is communication harder with hearing loss?

Hearing loss is not only about sounds being quieter. Many people, particularly with age-related hearing loss, find that speech sounds less clear: some consonants are hard to tell apart, so words seem mumbled even when they are loud enough. Background noise, echoey rooms, several people talking at once and fast speech all make this harder. Following conversation can be tiring, and many people withdraw from social situations because of the effort involved.

Before you start speaking

Get their attention. Say their name, or gently touch their arm, before you begin.
Face the person. Many people with hearing loss rely partly on lip movements and facial expressions, often without realising it.
Mind the light. Make sure your face is well lit; avoid standing with a window or bright light behind you.
Be close enough. Talking from another room or across a busy space rarely works.

While you are talking

Speak clearly, not louder. Shouting distorts speech and can look angry. A natural, slightly slower pace with clear words works better.
Keep your mouth visible. Avoid covering it with your hand, eating or chewing while speaking, or turning away mid-sentence.
Rephrase rather than repeat. If a sentence is missed, say it in a different way. Some words are easier to hear than others.
Introduce the topic. Saying "About tonight's dinner..." helps the listener follow what comes next.
Pause between ideas. Short breaks give time to process.
Check understanding kindly. For important details such as times, names or medicine instructions, ask them to repeat back the key points or write them down.

Reduce background noise

Turn off the television or radio during conversations.
Choose quieter corners in restaurants and cafés, away from kitchens and speakers.
In the car, reduce fan noise and music when talking.
At home, soft furnishings can make rooms less echoey.

Group conversations and family gatherings

Group settings are often the hardest. You can help by:

seating the person where they can see most faces, with their back to the light;
encouraging one person to speak at a time;
briefly filling them in if they join a conversation late;
including them directly rather than talking about them;
planning quieter moments for important conversations.

On the phone and with technology

Phone calls remove visual cues. Speak clearly, confirm important details, and consider video calls so they can see your face. Captions on the television and on video calls can also help. Many modern hearing aids can connect to phones, TVs and accessories; our guide to using hearing aids with your phone, TV and accessories explains the general options.

If the person is new to hearing aids

Hearing aids take time to get used to, and sound can seem unfamiliar at first. Patience, quieter settings and encouragement help. See getting used to new hearing aids for what the first weeks often involve.

Tips for the person with hearing loss

Let people know what helps you, for example "Please face me when you talk."
Choose where you sit in meetings and restaurants.
Ask for key information to be written down.
Keep hearing aids clean and working, and attend follow-up appointments.

If you think a family member's hearing has changed, a hearing test is the clearest next step. Our article on helping a parent who will not admit to hearing loss offers ways to raise the subject gently.

When to see a specialist

Suggest a hearing test if someone often misunderstands conversations, struggles in noisy places or on the phone, or has started avoiding social situations. If they already use hearing aids and are still struggling, a review with their audiologist may help.

Seek medical attention promptly for sudden hearing loss, hearing loss or ringing in one ear only, or hearing changes with dizziness, ear pain or discharge. You can book an appointment online or contact us with questions.

Frequently asked questions

Does shouting help people with hearing loss?

Usually not. Shouting distorts the shape of words, can make lip movements harder to read and may seem angry. Speaking clearly, a little more slowly and face to face, in a quieter place, generally helps more than extra volume.

Why is background noise so difficult?

With hearing loss, the ear and brain have less detail to separate speech from other sounds. Noise covers the quieter parts of words, so speech becomes harder to follow and listening becomes tiring. Reducing noise and getting closer to the speaker often helps.

How can I help at family gatherings?

Seat the person where they can see faces, away from noise and with the light behind them. Encourage one speaker at a time, include them directly, and briefly explain the topic if they join late. Save important conversations for a quieter moment.

Sources

This article is general information and does not replace advice from a qualified professional.

Adult Hearing Tests & Assessment Ashfeera Ashraf