Coping and support

These tips can help you communicate more easily despite your hearing loss:

• Tell your friends and family. Let them know that you have some hearing loss.
• Position yourself to hear. Face the person you're talking to.
• Turn off background noise. For example, noise from a television may interfere with conversation.
• Ask others to speak clearly, but not more loudly. Most people will be helpful if they know you're having trouble hearing them.
• Try to have the other person's attention before speaking. Avoid trying to converse with someone in a different room.
• Choose quiet settings. In public, choose a place to talk that's away from noisy areas.
• Consider using an assistive listening device. Hearing devices, such as TV-listening systems or phone-amplifying devices, smartphone or tablet apps, and closed-circuit systems in public places can help you hear better while decreasing other noises around you.