Improving Your Listening and Hearing Skills

Recognize the problem

The fact of the matter is, everyone in your life has probably not suffered some type of speech disorder and now mumbles their words so you can’t understand them. It is most likely your hearing, and though you may not be able to cure the problem, going to an audiologist can help you identify the best way to improve your hearing.

Speak up

If you have trouble hearing a waiter or someone you are talking to across the table, don’t be afraid to ask for a written version of the menu or ask to change the seating arrangement so you can sit closer to your friend. A conversation is a two-way street, and the person you are talking to wants to be heard and understood as much as you want to hear and understand them. The same goes for non-conversational situations. Do not be afraid to ask a public speaker to speak into their microphone (instead of waving it around like a pointer) or to call a theater or lecture hall beforehand to ask about their assistive listening devices. Be forthright and let someone know, “yes, I really want to hear you!”

Get the most out of your hearing aid

We have already established that we do not live in a perfect world, and there is no magic button to heal your hearing. Would it be expecting too much if, when using modern hearing aids for the first time, you would adapt instantly to your new and flawless hearing skills? Well, actually…yes. It takes time and a little experimentation to find the right hearing aid for you.

No one wants hearing loss to be the defining trait of their character. Unfortunately, when we lose the ability to communicate effectively with the people around us, it can become a huge part of how others view us.

In a perfect world, we could instantly restore our hearing and be rid of our

communication difficulties with the touch of button. Since most of us are without a button to push, let’s consider how technology and communication strategies can help you interact more easily and successfully.

“It takes time and a little experimentation to find the right hearing aid for you.”

Don’t get discouraged

It may seem unfair, but hearing loss usually does not happen overnight. Rather, over time, your ears and brain become used to the garbled or quieter sounds. When you put in hearing aids for the first time, you are suddenly exposed to a much wider variety of sounds than you are used to hearing, and these noises may sound a little different. However, just like becoming accustomed to another person’s accent, you will soon understand everyone easily and clearly.

Be in control

When you were learning to drive or buying your first car, you probably didn’t do it without the help of a professional. The leap toward improving your listening and hearing skills is another journey that should not be traversed alone. Hearing aids have come a long way with modern technology, making them sensitive to all different kinds of hearing loss. That being said, it is important to work closely with an audiologist when choosing and adjusting to your hearing aids to make sure they are working as effectively as possible.

Speechreading principles

Speechreading is a lot like lipreading, but focuses on more than just the movements of the mouth. A lot of nonverbal communication goes on when we’re speaking to each other, like hand gestures and facial expressions. While you may insist that you would never be able to read someone’s lips, have a friend mouth a month of the year or a day of the week, with only 12 or 7 options, you’ll see that you’re better than you think!

Speechreading requires hearing Speechreading is not the same as lipreading; it will not take years of training and it will not allow you to engage in conversation without your hearing. It is about filling in the gaps. You may not be able to hear or understand every single word, but you can “get” the message so you can communicate effectively.

Make sure you can see the person’s lipsJust as it is important to speak up when someone needs to move their chair closer to you, the same is true with learning to use speechreading skills. You will not be able to use someone’s lips to help you understand them if they are in the dark, turned away from you or too far away. And, even if they are close, you may be used to looking someone “right in the eye” instead of noticing the intricate movements of their lips. Take time to readjust so that you are better able to use and naturally improve your speechreading.

PredictabilityFill in the blanks: “He hit a home _____, in the last ____!” Did you say “Run” and “Inning”? Part of this is realizing the context. If you’re at the bank, your teller probably said “Account Number” not “What about slumber?” These may seem like obvious principles, but they are incredibly important for improving your hearing and listening skills.

“Over 36 million people experience hearing loss for a variety of reasons…and there is no quick fix for it.”

Auditory training

Becoming accustomed to hearing loss or a new hearing aid takes time, practice and patience. There are several techniques you can use that will help your hearing and listening skills, before you go out in constant, casual conversation.

Tracking Have a conversation partner select a paragraph of material that will be easy for you to comprehend (subject matter that you are not familiar with will make this more difficult than it should be). Have your partner read a sentence from the paragraph, and then listen to you repeat it back exactly. If you miss all or part of the sentence, have your partner repeat it verbatim, or stress the words you missed. If you are still having trouble, have the sentence rephrased but then go back to the original version for you to repeat. Go through every sentence in the paragraph individually. It may help to turn on the television or have music in the background, as the majority of difficult hearing situations are due to the amount of background noise. Be sure to limit your sessions to 15-30 minutes – this practice can be arduous and fatiguing.

Do it yourself Having trouble finding a partner? You can work on your listening and hearing skills yourself by listening to a book-on-tape or CD. At first, follow along with the book, but gradually let your hearing do the work as you depend entirely on your listening skills.

Home-based training programs Professional programs can also help. Listening and Communication Enhancement, or LACE, is a computer-based program that requires 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for four weeks. It may seem like a lot, but research shows that the program can significantly improve listening skills. Another program, Seeing and Hearing Speech, focuses on understanding vowels, consonants, intonation, and everyday communication, and couples these hearing lessons with the visual stimuli needed in speechreading. Both of these programs should be done in close collaboration with your audiologist to track your progress.

We don’t live in a perfect world

Over 36 million people experience hearing loss for a variety of reasons…and there is no quick fix for it. Hearing aids can help significantly, but cannot rectify the problem instantly or miraculously. With practice and patience, you can improve your listening and hearing skills and communicate effectively with everyone from your spouse to your waiter! Ready to improve your listening and hearing skills?

Erichson Hearing Aid Center has been helping people discover a better way of hearing for nearly 50 years. Our certified hearing specialists personally help you find the hearing aid that’s right for you and your lifestyle.

Even better, our industry-leading complete hearing healthcare program, Lifetime Listening, guarantees the best value in technology and service – including the latest hearing aid features and styles from Oticon.

From your first evaluation through annual check-ups, Erichson is committed to serving you today and as your hearing changes tomorrow.

Schedule a free evaluation and no-obligation, two-week trial of any hearing aid from Erichson Hearing Aid Center.

Bibliography

Ross, Mark (2009). Improving Your Listening and Hearing Skills. Hearing Loss & Hearing Aids: A Bridge to Healing 3rd Edition. 67-85

Ross, Mark (1998). “Dr. Ross on Hearing Loss and Speechreading.” From the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Hearing Enhancement website:http://www.hearingresearch.org/Dr.Ross/speechreading.htm

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