Having to repeat statements can frustrate, annoy or make a speaker feel helpless. Asking for repeats can produce feelings of frustration.
Guidelines to coping with hearing loss
1. Make sure your position in a room favours listening.
Cut down background noise if you can.
Move away from it if you can.
Shut doors.
Choose people to talk to initially that have clear speech so you can become confident at the beginning of the evening.
2. Let the speaker know that you have a hearing loss and describe your loss accurately.
If you have a slight loss, try "I have a slight hearing loss", rather than "I am deaf". When people see you respond to sounds they will not take your hearing loss seriously.
3. Be prepared to introduce a few topics, initiate conversation, BUT beware of overdoing this.
4. Look interested in what is happening around you.
Let your eyes work for you – pick up clues. Perhaps something like this: "Were you talking about bushwalking? You looked as if you were describing a walk."
5. Let people know exactly what you have missed.
"I've missed the first word."
"I've missed the last bit."
"What's the topic? I'm lost."
"I didn't catch the name?"
"I heard you say 'going on a cruise'. Was that correct?"
REMEMBER:
Questions that require simple one-word answers of specifically YES or NO are often useful. They are shortcuts to communications when 'checks' are required.
6. Wait
Sometimes if you wait until a sentence is finished and a conversation has settled in, you will pick up the subject from clues and cues.
You can say too quickly: "I missed that."
7. Write it down
You may have to ask people to write down information so keep a pad and pencil or small 'write and wipe' pad on-hand.
8. Use your sense of humour
Tell people about your hearing errors.
Get them to laugh with you.
Use a simple gesture to indicate you can't hear – perhaps cup your ear.
9. Can you make people feel good about giving you repeats?
"I'm interested in what you're saying."
You look as if you're enjoying what you're talking about."
"May I share your enjoyment?"
10. Let some part of a conversation go.
No-one hears everything!
11. If you managed to do all this then you have the right to be assertive.
Don't let people put you off with: Speaker: "It doesn't matter."
Keep quietly saying: "I'm sorry. It does. I need to know what you are saying."
Speaker: "Oh, it's not important."
Reply with: "It matters. I need to know what you said."
(This is the technique of the broken record, and if often works!)
12. And finally remember:
Be assertive when asking for repeats – you have your rights. BUT be understanding of the frustration of others – other people have their rights too.
