How To Communicate Effectively With The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing

By Rey Vetangelo


There are those people in the world who have lost their hearing one way or another. These people are referred to as the Deaf.

Deaf people are generally proud of being Deaf, and they do not view their condition as a disability. Many of them do not like wearing hearing aids of cochlear implants because they believe that these devices send the message that it is undesirable to be Deaf, and if they could fix it they would.

Losing hearing can cause some pretty serious problems with your day to day activities. Throughout every day you count on your ability to hear but you may not realize just how often you depend on this sense to accomplish common tasks.

Talking on the phone is a great example. There are a lot of people that need to talk on the phone throughout their time at work or even when they get home and not being able to hear can throw a wrench in your ability to carry on a conversation at home.

If you or someone you love is Deaf, and you live in an area where certain natural disasters are common, it is important to prepare in the event of an emergency. One thing you can do to prepare is to make sure any hearing aids are stored in a place that is easy to find and that will not be damaged during a disaster.

Completely deaf people will not be wearing a hearing aid. If you want to communicate more effectively with someone you know who is deaf, you do not necessarily need to learn sign language.

Make sure that if you have a captioned phone, pager, or any other communication equipment that you keep it in a safe and secured area in the event of an emergency. These could be lifesaving devices that will help you communicate with your loved one.

The Deaf person may need to use their captioned phone in order to call 911. It is also important to put together an emergency kit so you and your loved ones can be prepared should an emergency occur. One important item that you should include in your emergency kit is a flashlight and batteries. These items will come in handy in case the Deaf person does not have light in order to lip read and read signs.

One of the most common mistakes that people make with their hearing is putting foreign objects in their ears. When you put foreign objects in your ears you can easily cause damage to the small and fragile parts of your ear that play a large role in your ability to hear well.

If you are going to wear ear plugs when you sleep, make sure that you are wearing ear plugs with a string attached to the plug. When you put ear plugs in your ears at night, you can risk the ear plug getting lodged in your ear throughout the night and the string will enable you to get it out.

Emergencies and disasters can be stressful and frightening, especially for those with hearing loss. Making sure you are prepared in case a disaster strikes is a great way to reduce stress and ensure that everyone remains safe.




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