Speaking tips to help those with hearing loss

There are many misconceptions regarding hearing loss and hearing aids.
One of the most common misconceptions is that hearing aids should restore normal hearing.
Hearing aids assist the listener with hearing impairment, however, modified communication techniques are essential to effective communication.
The speaker can help when the listener has a hearing loss by following these suggestions:
•Get the listener’s attention before you begin talking to minimize the likelihood of your having to repeat yourself.
•Do not shout. Increasing your vocal effort can be helpful, but shouting makes matters worse.
•Slow your rate of speech to make your voice easier to understand.
•Get close before talking (it saves your voice from shouting and makes you easier to understand).
•Speak clearly, but don’t exaggerate your pronunciation. Do finish speaking all the sounds of one word before beginning the next.
•Rephrase. If repeating once does not help, use different words to express the same idea.
•State the topic you are about to discuss and indicate when the topic changes.
•Use gestures to help with understanding.
•Confirm details to ensure the message has been understood accurately.
•Notice background noise. Turn the noise down or move to a quieter place if possible. Noise interferes with understanding.
(From “Listening to Hear Again”).