Resources > Hearing Loss

Talking with someone
who has a hearing loss

• Make it easy for the person to see you
• Before you speak, get the person's attention, for example by saying their name.
• Try to be within 4 feet of them.
• Don't turn or lower your head or have your hand or a long moustache over your mouth.
• Light on your face helps (not standing with a window close behind you).
• Speak clearly, and loudly if necessary - but definitely don't shout.
• Background noise makes listening difficult - try to reduce it or move away from the noise.
• A hearing aid doesn't make hearing normal. It makes sounds louder, but not necessarily clearer. It amplifies background noise that you don't want to hear - for example, if you are having a conversation while washing dishes, you hear lots of swishing and clattering!
• Some people with hearing loss are sensitive to loud sounds. There is not a big range between what is audible and what is uncomfortably loud. (This is trying!)
• Having a hearing loss often means concentrating very hard to hear. Listening intently is tiring and getting tired makes it harder to follow what is being said.
• These points are summarised from one of the very helpful handouts available form HEAR Service (VicDeaf).