Face them instead of raising your voice
Shouting distorts speech and singles someone out. Facing them and slowing down works far better.
The BeingKind editorsPublished How this is written
Why it lands
Most hearing loss affects high frequencies, so volume alone does not restore clarity — it just makes a distorted sound louder, and it announces the person's impairment to the room. Lip reading, even unconsciously, contributes enormously to comprehension. Turning to face someone and dropping your pace is more effective, less conspicuous, and almost nobody does it.
How
Face them directly in good light, do not cover your mouth, and slow down rather than getting louder. If they miss something, rephrase it instead of repeating the same words at higher volume. In a group, make sure only one person talks at a time.
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