Supporting loved ones with hearing loss
It is important that dDeaf and Hard of Hearing loved ones feel supported—not only by the Deaf community, but also the hearing community. While some friends with hearing loss may feel more comfortable in hearing environments, that doesn’t mean they don’t still need support to have an inclusive and accessible experience. Here are a few tips to help create safe and accessible spaces in your home, workplace, and social life.
1. Educate Yourself
Take the initiative to educate yourself about deaf culture, communication methods, and assistive technologies. By learning basic sign language or using resources like closed captions, you can bridge the communication gap and make interactions more inclusive.
2. Enhance Communication
When talking, face them directly and maintain eye contact. Speak clearly, but avoid shouting or exaggerating your lip movements which can hinder lip reading. Use facial expressions and gestures when talking, this provide helpful visual cues.
3. Be Mindful of Their Preferences
Each individual has different communication preferences. Some may prefer sign language, while others may rely on assistive listening devices, lip reading or written communication. It's important to respect their preferred communication methods and understand that it may need to adapt depending on the setting.
4. Use Assistive Technology
We are fortunate to have a wide range of technology such as texting, captioned video calls, and live transcription services accessible from our smart phones. Places like grocery stores, churches and movie theatres sometimes utilize hearing loops compatible with built-in FM system technology that streams audio to one’s hearing devices. It is an exciting time of technological advancements that are leading us closer to a more accessible world.
5. Be Patient and Engage Actively
Patience is key when it comes to effective communication. Many dDeaf and Hard of Hearing individuals advocate for themselves by asking clarifying questions or for the individual to repeat information. It is actively excluding the dDeaf or Hard of Hearing person to breeze past information without repeating if they have asked you to repeat or clarify. Try rephrasing the previous statement if they struggle to understand what was being said. This helps them piece together the context and have more clarity in where the conversation is headed.
6. Include Them in Social Activities
Encourage accessibility in social gatherings and activities by considering the needs of your dDeaf and hard of hearing friend. Arrange for sign language interpreters or captioning services if needed at concerts, shows or movie theatres. If you are going out, ask if they use a roger pen or FM mic that you can wear for clearer communication while speaking. Play games that include the person rather than exclude them. For example, games like fish bowl, Telestrations, and Uno are great options as they require minimal verbal communication.
7. Advocate for Accessibility
An ally is someone who fights alongside their dDeaf and Hard of hearing loved ones to make educational, vocational, and public spaces accessible. Encouraging others to use captioning on video platforms, to teach sign language in more schools, and raising awareness to overpriced assistive listening technology are a few ways to get involved.
