Relationships with moms are special and one-of-a-kind, and it’s no secret that being able to communicate with one another helps to maintain that treasured bond. But when a parent or other loved one has hearing loss, it can sometimes put a wrench into your exchanges—resulting in frustration, fatigue, and miscommunications for everyone involved.
Whether your loved one is in the early days of adapting to new hearing aids or still thinking about getting their hearing tested, one of the best things you can do for them—and for your relationship—is to support their hearing needs when you communicate with one another.
So, in honor of this Mother’s Day on May 11 and maintaining that priceless communication between you, your mother, or any other person you really care about—here are 10 dos and don’ts for communicating with someone with hearing loss:
1. Do get their attention before you begin talking
Simply saying your loved one’s name or tapping them on the shoulder lets them know you’re about to speak so they can prepare to listen.
2. Don’t speak to them from another room
Instead, always speak to the person face-to-face and no more than a few feet away. This can help them to better understand you by being able to read your lips and facial cues.
3. Do speak clearly but conversationally
While it may seem logical to speak extra slowly to a person with hearing loss, doing so can actually make language sound less natural/identifiable and lip-reading more difficult. It’s more helpful to speak clearly and naturally to your loved one, allowing for a few extra pauses for processing.
4. Don’t mumble
One of the most common complaints of people with hearing loss is that others sound like they are mumbling—so imagine what it would be like for your loved one if you actually were mumbling. Try to avoid it.
5. Do repeat things if asked
Additionally, if you can see from the person’s face that they are having trouble understanding, you can assist them by rephrasing what you’ve said to give them more information about the topic.
6. Don’t yell
Though your intention is to help your loved one hear what you’re saying, yelling can actually change your voice, tone, and facial cues—making it more difficult for them to understand you. Instead, stick to a normal, conversational voice tone, altering the volume only slightly if needed.
7. Do use facial expressions and gestures
Extra visual assistance through these and other body language cues can help augment your communication for the person with hearing loss.
8. Don’t cover your mouth or eat while speaking
By now you understand that visual cues are important for communicating with a loved one who is hard of hearing: So, it makes sense to also avoid covering your mouth (while expressing emotions or sharing discreet information, for example) while speaking to them. Add to that eating or chewing—which can distort your words from their visual standpoint.
9. Do be considerate during group conversations
Cross-talk, or when two or more people are talking in a conversation simultaneously, is especially difficult for someone with hearing loss. If possible, try to configure the conversation so that only one person is talking at a time.
10. Don't forget to suggest a hearing evaluation (if appropriate)
If the person you care about does not realize or are not convinced they have hearing loss, you can gently encourage them to take a free online hearing test. Or better yet, recommend they see a licensed hearing care professional for a more thorough test and ear examination. Hearing tests are painless, straightforward, and typically free.
Following the evaluation, the provider can counsel your loved one through the best solution for their hearing needs.
Here’s to enjoying every moment this Mother’s Day and many more to come—through the joys of better hearing.