5 Essential Tips for Effective Communication with Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Enhance Your Interactions and Foster Inclusivity in Every Conversation

At CCHAT, we do our best to prepare our students for life outside of our campus, and those who leave our program are equipped with a set of skills that enable them to thrive in a hearing world. However, there are a number of steps that people who interact with children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) can take to make those meetings more positive and beneficial. 

Interacting with a child who is DHH who uses hearing aids or cochlear implants involves understanding and accommodating their unique needs. Here are five ways you can better support them during these experiences. 

Maintain Eye Contact: Building Connection and Understanding 

As children who are DHH work harder to hear your words, you must make sure you have their full attention. Facing the child and developing eye contact lets them know that you are preparing to speak. It also enhances listening comprehension compared to having your back to the child. Additionally, even children with hearing aids and cochlear implants benefit from lip reading. Seeing your face will improve their ability to understand your words. 

Speak Clearly: Enhance Listening Comprehension with Clarity

Once you have the child’s attention, try to speak as clearly as possible. Use a normal tone and pace, avoiding exaggerated mouth movements. It is important to remember that clear speech is more useful than loud speech. This helps create a better listening experience for the child and increases the chance of you enjoying a mutually beneficial conversation. 

Reduce Background Noise: Creating an Ideal Listening Environment

Another way to create a better listening environment for children who are DHH is to reduce background noise when possible. Stepping away from a crowd, finding a quiet room or space, or turning down/off noise-producing items (TV, radio, kitchen appliances, etc.) minimizes the strain on a child working to hear your words. 

Be Patient and Attentive: Supporting Processing Time 

Sometimes a child who is DHH requires more time to process your words or provide a response. Remaining patient and attentive gives them the confidence to continue the interaction. Growing frustrated or saying “never mind” will lead to children who are DHH feeling excluded from conversations. 

If a child struggles to understand your words, try rephrasing rather than repeating. Different words might be easier to understand. If you remain patient and aware of their needs, your communications will continue to improve over time.

Ask How to Help: Customizing Communication for Individual Needs

No two hearing loss journeys are exactly the same. Each person’s needs are unique, so ask them directly how you can best support their communication preferences. Most will be happy to share how you can enhance their listening experience. 

Creating a Positive Experience: Fostering Inclusivity for All Children

By adopting these practices, you can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for children who are DHH. These individuals have worked very hard at developing their listening and spoken language skills, and they are happy to be able to join you in conversations and gatherings. Your willingness to improve these experiences means a lot and can ensure that you both leave feeling pleased and encouraged for future engagements.