BE A GOOD FRIEND AND SPEAK CLEARLY

Do you have friends or relatives who seem to have problems with their hearing?

Or perhaps you have a friend with hearing aids who still doesn’t hear well, especially in noisy situations?

There is a technique called “Clear Speech” which is relatively easy to do and has been shown to result in at least 20% increase in clarity. It really helps, especially for people with hearing problems or when speaking in noisy background situations. See top tips below:

• Slow down your speaking rate, with more precise pronunciation. This involves emphasizing the beginnings and ends of words.
• Secondly, raise the volume of your voice slightly, but don’t yell or shout.
• Lastly, pause between key pieces of information. It’s the pauses which give people time to process the information. An example is: My husband’s brother is coming to visit us in Auckland in January. Try using the following technique: My husband’s brother (pause) is coming to visit us (pause) in January.
• Be sure you are face-to-face with your communication partner so he/she can get facial expressions, gestures and lip reading cues. Talking to someone from behind or another room is difficult for anyone with a hearing problem.
• Minimize background noise if possible. Turn down the music and pick a quiet area if possible (ie away from the barista and kitchen and any noisy groups).
• Good lighting is important as well – so your listener can see your face. Be sure to avoid a glare from the window or back-lighting (sitting with the window behind you) which can put your face in shadows.

If you have concerns about a friend or family member’s hearing – encourage them to get a hearing test. If they have hearing loss – encourage them to try hearing aids and wear them every day! They really do help!

For more information about hearing, communication and hearing aids you can contact Teresa Burns, Audiologist and Owner of Teresa Burns Hearing Ltd, Auckland New Zealand.

(09) 475 9849 or  teresaburnshearing.co.nz