Table 1.
Practical Tips for Providers of Older Adults with Hearing Loss26
| Domain | Do | Don't |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Ensure good lighting—patient can see your face and read your lips (“speech reading”) | Poor lighting—cannot read lips |
| Invite a non–hearing impaired caregiver | Assume the patient does not need support | |
| Positioning | Sit in front of patient so they can read your lips | Speak to caregiver rather than patient—patient cannot read your lips |
| Language | Pitch voice low—high frequency sounds are lost first | Shout—distorts sound and raises pitch |
| Enunciate | Speak rapidly without pausing | |
| Rephrase—alternative phrasing may be easier to hear | Repeat—this phrasing may be difficult to hear | |
| Use the teach-back approach | Assume the patient understands | |
| Aids | Use visual aids and write things down | Rely exclusively on spoken communication |
| Use technology such as pocket talkers | Rely on voice alone when a simple amplification device could help | |
| Documentation | Document effective communication strategies in the medical record for others to use | Find that something works or doesn't work and not inform the next group of providers |