One of the biggest motivating factors for getting hearing aids is to combat the negative effect hearing loss has on your ability to socialize with others. Using hearing aids improves your ability to understand and communicate with others. This makes it easier to enjoy everything from family barbeques to a romantic dinner out with your spouse at Porterhouse Grill.
While these improvements are significant, it can take a bit of time to adjust to using your hearing aids in social situations. Let’s examine a few tips to help make the process easier.
Be Open with Others About Your Hearing Loss
It’s normal not to want to tell others about your hearing loss or that you use hearing aids. However, being open will likely improve your communication and reduce misunderstandings. If someone knows you have hearing loss, they will be more inclined to double-check to make sure you heard something and less likely to assume you aren’t paying attention to them if you miss part of what was said.
Share Communication Strategies
Go beyond just saying you have hearing loss and let people know what communication strategies work best for you. Some things you can mention include:
- Asking for them to look at you and not cover their mouths while speaking. Not only does this make it easier for you to read lips, but hearing aids are designed to pick up sound that is coming directly in front of you.
- Ask them to get your attention before they start talking by tapping you gently on the shoulder or whichever method you prefer.
- Suggest moving to a quieter location if you are struggling to hear in a loud environment.
Consider Aural Rehabilitation
Aural rehabilitation uses a variety of different strategies to improve communication for people with hearing loss. This can include continuing education on how to use your hearing aids or other assistive listening devices, tips for better communication strategies, auditory training and even peer support groups.
Research has shown that aural rehabilitation is very effective at providing a “short-term reduction in self-perception of hearing handicap and potentially better use of communication strategies and hearing aids.”
If you would like more information about aural rehabilitation and communication strategies or need to make an appointment with one of our hearing specialists, call Georgia Hearing Center at ENT of Athens today.