As you might be aware, I am hard-of-hearing (HoH). I have sensorineural hearing loss, which means the nerve connecting my ear to my brain is damaged. I use hearing aids, but they don’t restore perfect hearing.
I also have Tinnitus, which causes a constant ringing in my ears. Some people experience it occasionally — mine is always buzzing.
Naturally, my hearing loss has led to awkward moments when I mishear or miss the point of a conversation. I created this site to share tips and resources that help others communicate more effectively with Deaf or HoH people.
Talking with HoH or Deaf people can feel challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips:
Ask what you can do to make things easier.
Use writing when possible.
Use gestures and facial expressions.
Maintain eye contact and open body language.
Respect preferences (e.g. louder speech, slower pace).
Face the person so they can read your lips.
Speak clearly and at a natural pace.
Be willing to rephrase if needed — many words sound similar.
Get the person’s attention first — tap their shoulder, wave, or say their name.
Face them so they can see your lips and expressions.
Speak clearly at a moderate pace. Avoid shouting.
Keep your mouth visible — don’t cover it with your hands.
In noisy places, move somewhere quieter if possible.
Don’t shout — it distorts speech and makes it harder to understand.
Don’t mumble — it’s harder to hear clearly.
Don’t turn away while talking — we need to see your face.
Don’t cover your mouth while speaking.
Don’t get frustrated — processing may take longer.
Don’t assume we understood — double-check if needed.
Q: What type of hearing loss do you have?
A: I have sensorial hearing Loss and Tinnitus.
Q: How long have you been hard of hearing?
A: Honestly, we're not quite sure! My parents took note of me 'ignoring them' when I was around 11, and when I said I didn't hear them, they promptly took me to an audiologist, where I was diagnosed with mild hearing loss. Needless to say, my stepmother felt horrible for calling me a liar.
Q: What are some of the challenges you face in your daily life due to your hearing loss?
A: Well, going through fast food drive-throughs pretty much isn't an option for me, speaking to anyone in public can be difficult, especially if I am in a loud environment, where the noise around me can distort the sounds I can hear.
Q: What are some of the things you appreciate about your hearing loss?
A: I am able to mute the world around me if I am getting overwhelmed. Another plus is that my hearing aids are Bluetooth, so I can stream music and videos to my hearing aids from my phone, which is nice.