Listening Tips

1. Relearn the trick of concentration. Pay attention. Listen.
2. Avoid pretending you have understood what was said. It will only confuse things later.
3. Do not be afraid to ask people to repeat or speak up louder.
4. Inform speakers you have a hearing impairment and suggest what they can do to help you hear well.
5. Remind people to speak directly to you and to look at you when they speak.
6. Carefully watch speakers; pay attention to the lips, facial expressions, gestures, and body language.
7. Position yourself to take advantage of good lighting. Have light come from behind you. Rearrange your position if you find there is a glare on the speaker’s face. This will assist you in using all nonverbal clues.
8. Try to limit the number of people you speak with at one time. One-to-one conversations are easier than group conversations.
9. Realize that hearing in noisy places is a problem for all listeners. At parties, meetings, theater, movies, and church, practice will help you learn to separate speech from background noise to some degree.
10. Recommend the use of public address systems at meetings or at church when they are available.
11. Try to arrive early at large group functions so that you can have the option of sitting close to the speaker; position yourself in the best situation to hear, as well as see.