How to Communicate With Someone Who Has Hearing Loss: The “Whites of Their Eyes” Rule
If someone you love has hearing loss, even simple conversations can sometimes become frustrating for both of you.
You may find yourself repeating things, speaking louder, or wondering why they seem to hear you in one situation but not another. Often, the problem is not that they are ignoring you or that their hearing aids are not working. It may simply be how the conversation is being started.
In the video below, Dr. Allen Craig of Harmony Hearing Center explains a simple communication strategy he calls the “Whites of Their Eyes Rule.” It can help make conversations easier for people with hearing loss, whether they wear hearing aids or not.
Why Getting Their Attention First Matters
When a person has hearing loss, they often rely on more than sound alone to understand speech.
If they are watching television, reading, working on something, or simply looking in another direction, they may not realize you have started talking to them until you are already halfway through your sentence.
By the time they turn toward you, they may have missed the beginning of what you said.
That can lead to the familiar response:
“What?”
Dr. Craig’s rule is simple:
Before you begin speaking, make sure you can see the whites of their eyes.
In other words, get their attention first.
Face the Person Before You Start Talking
Face-to-face communication can make a significant difference for someone with hearing difficulty.
Before starting a conversation:
Say their name.
Gently get their attention.
Wait until they turn toward you.
Face them while you are speaking.
Make sure your face is visible.
This gives the person a better opportunity to hear your voice clearly while also using visual cues from your face and mouth.
Don’t Talk From Another Room
One of the most common communication problems happens when someone tries to talk to a person with hearing loss from another room.
Walls, distance, household noise, and competing sounds can all make speech more difficult to understand.
If you are in the kitchen and the other person is in the living room, walking into the same room before starting the conversation can make a major difference.
The same rule applies:
If you cannot see their eyes, they may have difficulty hearing and understanding you.
Hearing Aids Help, But Communication Habits Still Matter
Even someone who wears hearing aids may struggle when speech comes from another room, from behind them, or while they are focused on something else.
Modern hearing aids can provide tremendous help with speech clarity, but they cannot eliminate every challenging listening situation.
Good communication habits can work together with hearing technology to make conversations easier and less frustrating.
A Simple Change That Can Make Conversations Easier
Helping someone with hearing loss communicate better does not require memorizing dozens of rules.
Start with one simple habit:
Get their attention. Face them. Then begin speaking.
That small change can help reduce misunderstandings and make everyday conversations more comfortable for everyone involved.
Have Questions About Hearing Loss or Hearing Aids?
If you or someone you love is having difficulty hearing or understanding conversations, Harmony Hearing Center is here to help.
We provide hearing evaluations, hearing aids, hearing technology, and personalized hearing care for adults in Jonesboro, Arkansas and throughout Northeast Arkansas.
Call Harmony Hearing Center at 870-268-1488 to ask a question or schedule an appointment.
If you or someone you love has trouble with their hearing, we would love to be part of the solution. Contact us today!
