I HAVE A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER WHO NEEDS HELP

Do you have a parent, friend or loved one who has not yet addressed his or her hearing loss? Have you successfully mastered the transition to better hearing with a hearing aid and want to help others? Jones Hearing is here to help you help others. It is our mission to help people achieve a better quality of life. We are happy to assist those who wish to do the same.

You may browse this website using the links on the left. The information on these pages can assist you in opening a dialogue with your parent, friend or loved one about hearing loss and how to hear better.

 

On This Page

>>  Free Guides
>>  Helpful Tips for Communicating with Those with Hearing Loss
>>  Helpful Tips for Employers of Individuals with Hearing Loss
>>  Guidelines for a Person with Hearing Loss
>>  For Successful Users of Hearing Aids

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact a Jones Hearing Associate who is ready to answer your questions at 1-800- 580-8484. Our mission is to educate people about hearing loss and to improve everyone’s hearing who needs assistance. Urge your parent, friend or loved one to seek help. The initial hearing check-up is FREE, so they have nothing to lose.

We also recommend specifically:

>>  What is Hearing Loss?
>>  How to Buy a Hearing Aid
>>  What to Expect at Jones Hearing Centers
>>  Six Principles fo Hearing Aid Success

Helpful Tips For Communicating With Those Who Have Hearing Loss

• Be certain you have the person’s attention - making sure he or she is looking at you - before you begin to talk.
• Face the person directly. Have light on the speaker's face, not in the listener's eyes.
• Speak clearly and more slowly than normal. Enunciate your consonants.
• Don't hide your mouth when talking. If you are reading aloud, don’t raise the book or paper so that it blocks your face.
• Be patient. Don’t be frustrated or resentful if you have to repeat things.
• Choose a quiet environment in which to talk. Move the conversation if necessary.
• Don't shout - shouting only distorts the speech sounds.
• Use facial expressions, lip movements, and hand gestures to add to your message.
• Reword your message if it is not understood at first.
• Write your message if necessary.
• Be sure that the person is not pretending he or she heard you. If you are uncertain, have the person repeat what you said to check for accuracy.
• If you are in a group setting, have group members agree to speak one at a time as much as possible. Watch who is speaking to give the friend with a hearing loss an indication of who is speaking.
• In restaurants or other challenging environments, choose a location near a wall (not in the center of the room) and let the person with hearing loss sit facing the wall. This reduces the ambient noises and allows him to focus more easily on one sound source.

Helpful Tips For Employers of Individuals with Hearing Loss

Meetings:

• Hold meetings in well-lit rooms where your employee can clearly see the face of each speaker. Allow the employee to sit with his or her back to any large windows to avoid glare that might obscure a speaker’s face. Have the chairperson request that participants refrain from speaking simultaneously. Encourage the employee to bring or wear a directional microphone to the meeting.
• If the meeting will be long, schedule regular breaks to give your employee a chance to relax his or her concentration.
• Formal meetings should have an agenda that makes the meetings easier to follow. Create written minutes afterwards that will allow the employee to see if he missed anything of importance.

Workspace:

• Provide an office or workspace where ambient sound is minimized. The room should ideally have a door which can be closed. Allow the employee to turn off equipment that creates ambient sounds, such as printers or copiers. Educate co-workers to move to an office or quiet area rather than hold a spontaneous meeting with the employee in a hallway or crowded area.
• Provide accessories such as a flashing light that indicates that the phone is ringing or that someone is requesting entry into their office. Request accessories to amplify the phone and computer speaker volume.
• Be aware that in industrial areas where hearing protecion is required for ALL employees, some designs of hearing protection may place excessive pressure on the employee’s ears or hearing aids. If possible, choose protection that will be appropriate for all your employees. Do research. Some protective devices made for those with hearing loss can even be adjusted to mask some sounds and allow in others.

Guidelines For a Person With Hearing Loss When Communicating With a Person With Normal Hearing

(provided by Esther Kelly –
Coordinator of Hard of Hearing Program
Deaf Action Center
3115 Crestview Drive
Dallas, Texas 75235-8599)

• Pick the best spot to communicate by avoiding areas that are poorly lit and very noisy.
• Anticipate difficult situations and plan how to minimize problems.
• Tell others how best to talk to you.
• Pay attention to the speaker.
• Look for visual clues of what is being said, such as facial expressions.
• Ask for written clues of key words, if needed.
• Let the speaker know if you do or do not understand what is said.
• Do not pretend you are hearing.
• Arrange for frequent breaks if discussions or meetings are long.
• Set realistic goals about what you can expect to understand.

For Successful Users of Hearing Aids

If you have successfully mastered the transition to hearing better with a hearing aid, you can inspire others to do the same. Direct someone you know to contact Jones Hearing or Request our very helpful and informative guide, "A Bridge to Better Hearing".

Six Ways To Help a Friend With Hearing Loss

1. Be an encouragement to others who are struggling with their hearing loss.
2. Listen for opportunities to help others who may benefit from your knowledge and personal experience.
3. Be ready to give a testimonial about how hearing aids improved your hearing.
4. Introduce a friend with hearing loss to your hearing professional.
5. Help others begin the journey, which starts with your positive comments about your hearing improvement.
6. Be available to make suggestions and lead a friend or loved one through the process of obtaining better hearing.

Your Friends Are More Likely To Succeed With Your Help

• Those with hearing loss are more willing to accept recommendations from someone who has first-hand experience.
• We all need encouragement from someone who can relate to us.
• The reassurance of a successful hearing aid user can make the difference between someone seeking and receiving help or never meeting with a hearing professional.

You can make a positive difference in someone’s life. It’s a proven fact that people are more willing to accept advice from someone they know.

“To receive freedom from hearing loss brings with it a new responsibility to lead others to freedom.”

Free Guides

For those with limited computer time, Jones Hearing Centers offers FREE material to read at
your leisure:

1.  "The Consumer's Guide To Hearing Aids"

This booklet categorizes hearing aids ranging from basic analog hearing aids to devices that use the newest digital technologies available.

>> Click here to order  FREE.

2.  “A Bridge to Better Hearing”

This informative guide helps you understand the experience of using hearing aids and what you can do to make your hearing aid experience successful.

>> Click here to order  FREE.