Hearing Loss

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Lifestyle & Management

Strategies to Improve Communication

Let others know you have some hearing loss. Tell them what they can do to help.

  • Face the person you are talking to. Ask them to speak slowly and clearly. Using a low-frequency, deeper voice can help.
  • Watch the person's face and lips to help understand what they are saying.
  • Reduce background noise. For example, mute the television and avoid crowded settings for important conversations.
  • Ask the person to write or type the information. Text messages and emails can help.

If you are in a hospital, always wear your hearing aids. If not available, ask for a device like a pocket talker. Not hearing well can lead to confusion and misunderstandings.

Communicating with a Hearing-Impaired Person

Tips for talking with someone who has hearing loss:

  • Ask the person how they prefer to communicate
  • Get the person's attention before you start talking
  • Reduce background noise and distractions when you can
  • Make sure the person can see your lips
  • Speak slowly and clearly, but do not shout
  • Speak toward the ear that hears better
  • If the person does not understand, try saying it a different way
  • Speak in full sentences. Single words are hard to lip-read because the listener needs context to understand.
  • If the person's reply does not make sense, make sure they know what topic you are discussing
  • Spell out words, use gestures, or write or type the information
  • Ask the listener to repeat back what they heard to avoid misunderstandings

 

Last Reviewed and Updated: October 2026 
By: AGS/HiAF Public Education Committee, HealthinAging.org Content Reviewers 

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