Chronicle of a deaf audiologist

When confirming that a person with hearing loss understands you

When confirming understanding with PWHL (people with hearing loss), avoid yes/no questions, such as “Do you understand?” These questions can be answered with a yes, without revealing whether the person actually understood what you said.

Yes/No questions can also put pressure on the person to say yes, out of politeness, fear, or embarrassment, even if they do not understand. (I’ve done it myself!)

Alternatively, we can do more of the heavy lifting by using observational cues. We can pay attention to body language and facial expressions that may indicate confirmation. We can re-state our key points and use a simple hand signal like a thumbs up or a thumbs down for quick confirmation. We can offer feedback statements after conveying important information such as, “Please let me know if you have any questions or if there is anything I can clarify.”

P.S. the audio clip is from the movie “Rush Hour.”  Do you know it?

Related clip: Why you shouldn’t call a person with hearing loss from another room

  • Photo credit:  © Alan Fortune

    Sandra Vandenhoff

    Dr. Sandra Vandenhoff is an audiologist with hearing loss, founder of HEARa, Hearing Rehabilitation teacher, and Canadian author, who does not remember saying on her first day of wearing hearing aids: "Mom, I can hear my shoelaces!"

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