​Good Communication Practices

Speech is visual and paying attention to the speaker is important

To better understand speech

• Look at the speaker, ask them to face you

• You can have challenges with 'b', 'm', 'p' as they can look the same - improves with practice

• Other challenges - mustaches and beards, speaking with hands over their mouths, chewing, speaking while looking down at their phone

• Remind the speaker to make it easier for you to see them speak.

​With friends and family

• Explain which listening situations are hard for you

• Ask them to face you when they talk so that you can see their expressions and lip movements

• This can help you better understand what they’re saying

• Ask them to speak louder, but not shout

• You may ask them to slow down when they speak, or to speak more clearly

• Turn off or turn down the volume of background noise, such as the TV, when you’re trying to have a conversation

• Noise around you that can make hearing more difficult - pick seating in a quiet area, put distance from noise source

For in-person meetings and classes

• Pick a seat as close as possible to the presenter and request them to face you

• Use all possible assistive listening technology or lecture hall microphones as available

• Minimize background noise (close doors/windows if necessary)

For virtual meetings and classes

• Turn on closed captioning

• Reach out to presenter about your hearing condition and request them to:

  • Speak with a moderate pace to enable correct captioning and allowing enough time to read

  • When repeating instructions and important announcement, use the exact same language instead of paraphrasing

  • Repeat audience questions before answering them so that the original question can be heard

  • Use visual aids

  • Use captions for video presentations

  • Provide electronic copies or hard copies of presentation materials 

For busy locations

• Check for noise sources: background music, conversations, appliances, ice/beverage dispensers, moving furniture, silverware use

• Select seating that is well lit (for lip reading) and away from noise sources

• Request patron to lower the volume of background music if you and others have to raise voices to speak to someone at arm's length

• For restaurants: Check 'Popular times' on Google maps - select less busy times

For locations with expected loud sounds (e.g. concerts)

• Move back and away from the source to increase safe listen time

• REMOVE ATLAS OTC hearing aid and replace with provided earplugs 

Check available 'Accessibility' options per Department of Justice

• Requires communication aids and services be provided to communicate effectively with those with hearing loss

• Required by State and local governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public

• Check 'Accessibility' choices on websites for these institutions such as AIRLINES, LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Must provide free of charge (exceptions if this becomes unduly expensive)

• Must give primary consideration to the needs and requests of person with hearing loss

• Examples:

  Qualified notetaker, qualified sign language interpreter, oral interpreter, cued-speech interpreter, or tactile interpreter, real-time captioning, written materials, printed script of a stock speech