How to Deal With the Hearing & Communication Impaired
It can be nerve-wracking to communicate with someone who is hearing or communication impaired. You may not be sure of the proper etiquette, or know how to get your information across. Some people are communication impaired as a result of a condition such as autism, which makes it very challenging for them to engage in social communication. Keep this in mind if they react in ways that you are not be accustomed to. Above all, treat them like you would treat anybody else while taking more care in your communication techniques.
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Instructions
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Get the attention of the person you wish to speak with. Face them and maintain eye contact, particularly if communicating with someone who is hearing impaired.
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Speak clearly and take care not to talk too rapidly. However, keep your speech pattern natural. Avoid shouting or over-enunciating your words.
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Keep your hands away from your face and avoid fidgeting or making distracting movements that are not related to what you are trying to say. This may agitate someone with autism and distract someone with a hearing impairment.
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Be patient. It may not be immediately apparent to the other person what you are saying, and you may not understand what they are communicating for some time.
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Accept help from a third party if offered, but do not ignore the person with the hearing or communication impairment. If a parent or child steps in and offers to help you communicate, make sure you keep the person with the impairment involved in the conversation by making eye contact with them.
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Try to conduct your conversation in a quiet location, where there will not be much background noise or external distractions. People with autism may be uncomfortable in many social situations. Taking the person out of that situation may make them more comfortable.
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Tips & Warnings
When talking with a person who is communication impaired, treat all behavior as a form of communication. People with autism or Asperger syndrome may use body language or actions to express what they cannot verbally.
Sometimes it may be easier to communicate with a hearing-impaired person by writing things down. Have a piece of paper and a pen handy if you know that you will be communicating with a hearing-impaired person.
If the hearing-impaired person uses sign language, a sign language interpreter should be used whenever possible. See resources for information about hiring an interpreter.
Avoid using "hearing impaired," as deaf people prefer "deaf" or "hard of hearing."
