Open a PDF version to print this topic

HealthInfo Canterbury

Communicating with someone who can't hear well

Ka whakawhiti kōrero ki te tangata taringa turi

communication3Here are some ways you can communicate better with a person who's hard of hearing or hearing-impaired.

If the person you're communicating with has a hearing aid but still can't hear you properly, check to see if their hearing aid is in their ear. Also check that it's turned on and has a working battery. If all these things are OK, find out when the person last had their hearing checked – it may be time to get it checked again.

Communicating with a deaf person

Communicating with a deaf person is very similar to communicating with someone who is hard of hearing. Use all the strategies above.

Use as many other methods of communication as possible, including body language and facial expressions.

You may also find this dictionary of sign language useful.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

Written by community speech-language therapists, Canterbury DHB. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed November 2020.

Sources

Page reference: 121541

Review key: HISCD-79694