Advice re. hearing loss

[niadainud]

I have recently discovered that someone I work closely with has severe/profound hearing loss and wondered whether anyone could offer any advice.

It may simply come down to speaking clearly and making sure she can she my mouth when I'm talking, but there may be other things I haven't thought of.

For various reasons I can't ask her directly.

Thank you.

Why can't you ask her? Everyone is different - what works for one may not work for another. As a Hearing aid wearer - I'm aware that I miss things and in the past relied on colleagues to update me. For family it is second nature to check if I did hear what was being said and not be offended if I missed something. Life is hard enough being deaf without people being huffy, impatient or offended because I didn't catch something.
So first off. get her attention, face her and be patient. Don't shout, speak too fast or for that matter speak too slow. If necessary, write things down, and if it's noisy move some where quieter. If she has a mobile phone - suggest that she uses Live transcript to help her with 'listening' Maybe ask your employers if they will fund a deaf awareness course for the benefit of the company and its employees. If you don't know BSL or sign language but she uses it - show willingness to learn from her - simple phrases or short cuts to ensure understanding.

She is the best source of advice on what would help her. No two people experience it the same. What is the environment? Minimise background noise and distractions, if they wear hearing aids there mat be gadgets to amplify or focus on what is being said via bluetooth, fatigue may be an issue in long meetings or conversations, perhaps recording or minuting conversations,

Thank you.

I can't ask her because she doesn't want to talk about it and she doesn't want anything to change about how we interact.

She doesn't wear hearing aids or use sign language and generally manages fine.

The environment is a very echoey room. Additional noise is unfortunately part of the context in which I see her.

That will be really hard for her, can you not find a smaller room. It will be difficult to hear clearly and sensory overload.

Seems as though you’ve already asked her and she’s told you she doesn’t want the way you interact to change, she’s given you your answer.

I have a family member with severe hearing loss. Make sure you have their attention when you need to speak with them. Speak clearly and slowly, try to enunciate properly. Don't get upset or cross if they haven't understood correctly and you need to repeat yourself.

Patience is key, it's just as frustrating for them, although if they won't engage on facilitating communication, that's not helpful.

A different room might be a possibility. The additional noise is an integral part of why I see her, but it can be separated from talking.

That's true broadly, but now having this information I can't continue exactly as before when I might, for example, have spoken while facing away from her.

Make sure you have their attention when you need to speak with them

This one’s important. I usually miss the beginnings of sentences because I need to ‘tune in’ when I realise someone’s talking to me. So, say her name to get her attention and then when she’s looking at you, start speaking. Sometimes even just an “erm” is enough to alert me that someone’s about to say something.

I would say face her when talking and speak clearly/ slightly louder. My DC has hearing loss and wouldn't want to be treated differently, they would ask if they needed something repeating etc.

How long have you worked with her? If it’s been a while and you haven’t noticed until now then carry on as before. She will let you know otherwise.

As a partially deaf person myself, you have asked her and she has said its fine, she doesn't want anything to change so leave it as is! It is not up to you to make changes on behalf of the deaf person. She is deaf not stupid! If it wasn't working for her she would have said. Basically leave her alone!

Thanks. I've worked with her about a year and a half. She's only just been diagnosed which is why I've only just been told.

I don't want to treat her differently at all (and she's managed incredibly well for it not to have been obvious), just not to do anything stupid like talk quietly when I'm standing behind her!