Talking on the phone with hearing aids

When you’re calling someone with hearing loss, using a good phone technique and remembering to speak clearly will help them hear as much as possible. Being mindful about when and where you call from can make all the difference. Here are five easy things to try:

1. Speak directly into the phone’s mouthpiece. Don’t hold it too close, as this can distort your voice and you will lose clarity.
   
   
2. Speak naturally and at a moderate speed. Talking too fast will make it hard to follow you, and speaking too slowly can come across as demeaning. Speak normally and avoid making the person with hearing loss feel self-conscious. Use pauses rather than slow speech to give the person time to process speech.
   
   
3. Choosing the right speaking volume. There is no need to shout. Shouting actually changes the words. Try not to mumble, as this is very hard to understand, even for people with normal hearing.
   
   
4. Find a quiet place to call from. Calling from the street, a café or an environment where there is background sounds can introduce noise that will distract the listener from hearing your voice. Some people with hearing loss are very sensitive to loud sounds.
   
   
5. People with hearing loss, like most people in fact, find it harder to hear when ill or tired, even when wearing a hearing aid. So it's best to ask them if you are calling at the right time and whether or not you should call back.

Setting the stage for a great telephone conversation involves letting people know the best way to go about it. Your friends and family want to involve and engage you in what is going on and will be happy to learn how they can make things better for you.

Be patient with yourself. When conversing on the telephone, you are missing out on seeing someone's body language, being able to lip read and seeing someone's facial expressions, all of which help fill in the gaps in a spoken conversation. Don't be too harsh on yourself, there are some simple techniques that can really make a big difference. Here are six tips for using a telephone if you have hearing loss:

1. Find a quiet space. Background noise can really interfere with your ability to follow the conversation, so if you're at home, turn off the TV and radio.
   
   
2. If you have a landline, ask people to call this number first. Generally, landlines are easier to hear on, especially if you have a speaker function. If you are calling with a mobile, use a headset as it will help isolate the speaker’s voice.
   
   
3. Don’t pretend you heard something if you didn't. There's nothing wrong with admitting it when you don't understand or if you've missed something. It can be easy to misunderstand words over the phone no matter what hearing ability you have, so don't feel awkward asking someone to speak up or speak more clearly.
   
   
4. Let people know the best time to call you. You may find that toward the end of the day you are feeling tired and therefore find it harder to hear.
   
   
5. Consider using Skype or FaceTime. Applications like these mean you will be able to see the person talking to you and pick up some of the visual clues that assist you when talking face to face.
   
   
6. Consider purchasing an amplified phone. Devices like these are specifically designed for the hearing impaired. They look like a regular home phone but have additional features that allow you to increase the volume of incoming sounds. Some also have the ability to increase the volume of the ringer, so it's easier to hear the phone ring if you are in another room.

Hopefully, these tips will assist you with communication over the phone.

If you think your hearing has changed, make an appointment to take a hearing test. We have an initial free test which will help determine if you require a second, more thorough test with an audiologist. Learning about your current levels of hearing is an excellent first step towards maintaining your hearing and staying connected to those around you.