Stigmas Around Communication Challenges
![stigma-report-graphic-1 stigma-report-graphic-1](https://mariondowns.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/stigma-report-graphic-1.jpg)
According to ASHA, 65% of people over 18 years old with hearing, speech, and/or language difficulties say that they encounter stigmas.
Here are some tips for communicating with people who have hearing challenges.
- Speak clearly and in your regular tone of voice.
- Don’t shout. Shouting just makes it harder for the person with hearing loss to
understand you. - Talk in quieter places. Eliminate background noise, such as sounds from the TV.
- Say the phrase or message in a different way if it appears that a person is having
difficulty understanding you. - Intentionally build “breaks” into your conversation. People with hearing loss expend extra effort listening, which can cause fatigue.
- Turn on captioning when watching TV or talking over video platforms such as Zoom.
- Be patient. Understand that the person with hearing loss may be frustrated with any communication breakdowns.
Communication is a two-way street, so do your part to ensure a successful interaction.
More tips can be found at https://www.asha.org/about/press-room/articles/tips-for-communicating-with-someone-who-has-hearing-loss/