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Hearing loss may be caused by several different factors. They include:
Deterioration of the hearing system due to the normal aging process.
Damage to the hearing system due to serious illness, medications or
heredity.
Problems such as ear infections, injury, ear disease or excessive ear
wax.
Damage to the hearing system due to prolonged exposure to loud noise.
More than 28 million people in the United States have a hearing loss. Of
those, 10 million have a hearing loss due solely to overexposure to
noise. Use common sense: if it sounds too loud, it probably is. Wear ear
protection when in noisy situations, such as concerts, movies, and even
when mowing the lawn.
If you have a hearing loss or know of someone who does, the following
tips may help you.
The listener with the hearing loss can:
Pay attention and observe the talker. What you see supplements what
you hear.
Make specific suggestions about how to talk to you. For example, it is
better to ask a person to rephrase or slow down than just to say "what?"
Provide feedback or double check details. If you tell your partner
what you heard, both of you will know right away if you understood
correctly.
Take breaks if needed. Listening with a hearing loss can be tiring.
You can concentrate better if you are rested.
Don’t bluff. Pretending you understand when you don’t helps no one.
The talker can:
Getting the listener’s attention. If you wait until he/she is ready to
listen before you begin talking, you may not have to repeat yourself.
State the topic. Tell the listener what topic you are about to
discuss. Tell him/her when the topic changes.
Get closer. It is best to move close to the listener before talking.
Speak clearly. Don’t exaggerate pronunciation, but do finish all the
sounds of one word prior to beginning the next.
Slow down and don’t shout. Talking a little slower than usual often
makes your voice easier to understand and often talking louder only
makes matters worse.
Confirm details. Politely double check that key details of a message
(i.e. meeting times and places) have been understood accurately.
Manage the listening situation:
Whenever possible, select a quiet environment by turning off competing
signals, such as the radio or TV.
Select restaurants with intimate areas rather than large open spaces.
Try to select a table located away from the kitchen, entrance or serving
station. A booth helps reduce competing noise.
During gatherings with a large group, look for a quiet spot to enjoy a
conversation with two or three people at a time.
Sound-absorbing materials, such as carpeting and curtains, reduce
external noise.
Close car windows to reduce traffic noise.
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