Communication: The Key to a Healthy Social Life

Communication:

The Key to a Healthy Social Life

Hearing is a complex sense. As we all know, the ears are where sound enters the body. But the brain plays an important role, too: it processes the sound signal and gives it meaning. For that reason, hearing aids need to transmit every sound in the environment to fully convey a message. This gives the brain access to the complete message (the detailed neural code) and lets it fully understand what’s going on in real life. Hearing aids help to compensate for hearing loss and reduce the effort of listening, as well as the associated fatigue, both of which can create social isolation and lead to depression in the long term. If you have hearing loss, you can also use an array of communication strategies and accessory technologies to make communication in social settings easier. Communication strategies

Here are some communication tips:

{ Get the other person’s attention before starting the conversation. { Pay attention to the speaker’s non-verbal cues, like facial expressions and body language. { Encourage feedback by asking questions to clarify the subject and context.

{ Stay positive and forgiving of yourself. { Don’t be afraid to ask people to speak more slowly or articulate more.

{ Ask people to rephrase and confirm the topic you’re talking about as needed.

Choosing a good listening environment:

{ Choose a well-lit location and, if possible, keep your back to the window so the speaker isn’t against the light. { Sit at round tables so you’re closer to the other speaker(s). { Position yourself away from other noise sources and reduce background noise whenever possible (by turning music down, for example).

You also have access to accessory technologies, which aim to help people understand speech while conveying all sound cues. What’s more, those technologies are constantly evolving.

Remote Microphones and Frequency Modulation Systems

Combined with hearing aids, these accessories help overcome unwanted noise and improve speech understanding in noisy situations.

Inductive Loops

Certain public places, like movie theatres and performance venues, offer inductive loop systems. They filter out background noise so that you can listen to a single source of sound without being distracted.

Smartphone Apps

Once installed and paired with your hearing aids, smartphone apps let you choose your listening program and adjust the volume to better cope with difficult listening situations.

A Guide for You!

A free, comprehensive guide about communication strategies is available at all Lobe clinics. Talk to your hearing health professional during your appointment.

To conclude, hearing aids and accessories can improve many areas of your life, but the benefits are especially noticeable in social situations. You can also use simple yet effective communication strategies to help you enjoy your time with your friends and family.

Talk to an audioprosthesist or a specialized educator for more information. They’ll be able to make personalized recommendations for you and your situation.

Josée Guillemette

Bilingual Audiology Support Specialist

Charles-Edouard Basile

Business Development Manager Pediatric and Adult Trainer

Véronique Fugère

Bilingual Audiology Support Specialist

References - Pichora-Fuller,M.K.; Kramer,S.E.; Eckert,M.A.; Edwards,B.; Hornsby,B.W.;

Humes,L.E.; … & Naylor,G. (2016). Hearing Impairment and Cognitive Energy:

The Framework for Understanding Effortful Listening (FUEL). Ear and Hearing, 37, 5S–27S. 2. - Santurette,S.; Ng,E.H.N.; Juul Jensen,J.; & Man,B.K.L. (2020). Oticon More™ clinical evidence. Oticon whitepaper.