{"id":1493,"date":"2022-03-02T14:02:15","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T20:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nsavl.com\/?p=1493"},"modified":"2022-03-02T14:02:17","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T20:02:17","slug":"6-active-listening-techniques-for-people-with-hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nsavl.com\/6-active-listening-techniques-for-people-with-hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Active Listening Techniques for People with Hearing Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When you go on a hike on Heller Nature Center<\/a>, you probably feel worn out afterward. For people with hearing loss<\/a>, this feeling is common after a long conversation where you\u2019re straining to hear and understand what is said. This phenomenon is known as listening fatigue<\/a>. Below we review six active listening techniques to help combat listening fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Face Your Conversation Partner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Two<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The best way to follow along with what is being said is to face your conversation partner. Trying to have a conversation when walking side-by-side, or worse \u2013 from another room entirely \u2013 can make it hard for you to hear and impossible to follow visual cues like lipreading, facial expressions and gestures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Turn Your \u201cGood Ear\u201d Toward the Speaker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just like your feet are probably not the exact same size, your hearing ability is likely not equal in both ears, either. If you have one good ear, turn it toward the speaker so you can better hear what they\u2019re saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Move Closer to the Speaker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ideal distance between conversation partners is three to five feet. If you\u2019re unsure if you\u2019re standing too close for comfort, you can always ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Concentrate on What Is Being Said<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes it\u2019s all too easy to space off momentarily or get distracted when having a conversation. However, you should make an effort to follow along with what the speaker is saying. It\u2019s harder to follow along when you\u2019ve missed information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Ask Clarification Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Conversations are a two-way street. If you feel confused about something or think you may have misheard what was said, ask the person you\u2019re speaking with to clarify. It\u2019s best to ask specific questions rather than simply saying \u201cI didn\u2019t catch that\u201d or \u201cI don\u2019t follow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Communicate Your Needs <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve had hearing loss for a while, you probably know what helps you hear and follow along better. Be sure to advocate for yourself and communicate your listening needs<\/a>. Your conversation partner will be more than happy to accommodate you so that you both get the most out of your conversation. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call North Shore Audio-Vestibular Lab<\/span> today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n