Table of Contents Practical
Pointer
Topic
of Interest
Vision
and Hearing
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Communicating
With Hearing Impaired People
- Get
the person’s attention, however, before you speak, say the persons
name or gently touch their arm. This helps to focus their attention
and concentrate on your words.
- Speak
slowly and distinctly at a normal loudness level. Do not shout.
- When
something is not heard or understood, rephrase, do not repeat exactly.
Continually repeating the exact words may not help.
- Help
the listener by providing visual clues. Look at the listener and keep
your hands away from your mouth. Do not talk while chewing or eating.
- Keep
the distance between you and the hearing impaired person from 3 to 6
feet for best listening and lip-reading.
- Sit
or stand so the light is focused on your face, not glaring from
behind.
- Eliminate
as much extra background noise as possible for better speech
understanding.
- Remember
that, even with a hearing aid, the hearing impaired person may not
hear or understand everything you say.
- Be
ready to use pencil and paper. If you have an unfamiliar accent or you
are not being understood, try writing the message.
- Use
your face, hands and body. Express your feelings about what you are
saying.
- Keep
your hands away from your face while talking.
- Recognize
that hard-of-hearing people hear and understand less well when they
are tired or ill.
- Professional
women e.g. nurses use bright lipstick to facilitate older person to
read lips more easily.
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