Face-to-Face Communication

The Power of Face-to-Face Communication

By Andrea Kaneb
two women in face-to-face communication at a campfire

Face-to-face communication offers more than just words; it’s a tapestry of emotion, understanding, and connection, so it’s vital to strive to overcome face-to-face communication challenges.

  • Dinner at a restaurant isn’t just about the food. It’s about sharing stories, laughing together, and feeling a sense of companionship with loved ones.
  • Car trips are more than just journeys. Long conversations on the road provide insights into the lives of our travel companions, fostering deeper understanding.
  • Engaging with our grandchildren lets us both impart wisdom and learn from their fresh perspectives, making us feel both valued and enriched.
  • Conversations at the doctor’s office or hospital aren’t merely clinical; they give us clarity about our health and help us feel in control.
  • Active participation in workplaces, classrooms, or community events isn’t about being seen; it’s about building our sense of purpose and self-worth.

Indeed, the depth of emotions and insights that come from face-to-face interactions is unmatched.

Challenges in Communication

While hearing devices, such as hearing aids and CIs, are invaluable for personal conversations in quiet settings, the external world presents unpredictable situations that make it hard to overcome face-to-face communication challenges:

  • Acoustic obstacles: Noise, reverb, and distance can distort clarity.
  • Visual barriers: Face-masks, beards, and people not facing us directly can hinder understanding.
  • Diversity: Encountering foreign accents adds another layer of complexity.

Recognizing these challenges, it’s essential to approach them with realistic expectations, cherishing the moments of clarity and connection.

Effective Communication Strategies

To overcome face-to-face communication challenges, consider these approaches:

  • Optimize Hearing:
    • Amplify speech for clarity.
    • Use tools like remote microphones to reduce background noise.
  • Maximize Visual Input:
    • Tune into facial expressions and lip movements.
    • Use captions as a backup for understanding.
  • Adopt Smart Strategies:
    • Be aware of your surroundings and adjust your position if needed.

Stay committed to fostering genuine connections!

tools for better face-to-face communication

Get Clean and Audible Sound

amplifiers for hearing loss – make it louder!

Amplifiers for hearing loss that make sounds louder so you can hear more. Ensuring that sounds are loud enough is the first and most important step to hearing well. Above [...]

Face-to-Face Communication

remote microphones & personal listening systems

Remote microphones and personal listening systems are a proven and effective way to to stay engaged in the conversation. They significantly increase the sound you want to hear over surrounding [...]

Facial Cues and Lip Reading

facial cues improve comprehension

Lip-reading and other facial cues improve comprehension for people with and without hearing loss. In fact, visual information makes up an estimated two-thirds of all communication (Gamble & Gamble, 2014). [...]

Captions and Text

captions and text fill gaps in hearing

When I struggle to follow a discussion, captions and text fill gaps in my hearing. (I wouldn't hear nearly as well without my reading glasses.) Today, captions are available in [...]

Specific face-to-face challenges

car rides

  • challenges – car rides can be noisy. The wind noise at high speeds, the tires and engine all contribute. Also, everyone is facing forward, so there’s no ability to read lips and sound does not always travel straight to you.
  • suggestions – Ask the other person to wear a remote mic (and mute hearing aids if you’re a passenger) or if it’s a long trip with many people use a mic that’s easy to pass around, like a Pocketalker with long mic cord or a Roger Pen.  If possible, sit up front so sound from the back travels toward you. Keep radio off, windows shut, fan low.

doctors

  • challenges – sometimes doctors turn away to look at their computer screen. Medical language can be unfamiliar. Stress and worry can make it hard to pay attention. Misunderstandings can have serious consequences.
  • suggestions – Remind medical staff of your hearing loss repeatedly and ask them to face you. Some people wear a “Face Me – I Have Hearing Loss” type button. Bring someone with you to take notes, but do not take a back seat to that person. Request CART ahead of time if needed or use a speech-to-text app on your phone, which can keep a transcript you can review later.  Ask for print-outs or email of any medical information.

family and friends

  • challenges – large noisy celebrations are especially challenging, people are too far away, not facing us, and multiple people are talking. Often there is music playing too.
  • suggestions -with family and friends, hearing loss is a group experience. It requires patience and kindness all the way around. Tell people what you need, so together you can figure out what works and doesn’t work in all the many places you find yourselves together. Use a remote mic or personal assistive listening device. Use a speech-to-text app on a mobile device. If people take turns talking, try sitting in the middle so no one is too far away. Otherwise, find a quieter spot off to the side for more intimate conversations. Round tables work better.

grandchildren

  • challenges -small grandchildren have soft, high voices, they’re still learning to talk and they are busy moving around.
  • suggestions -seek out opportunities to sit closely together, such as at meals, doing a craft or reading a book. A remote mic or personal assistive listening device may help also.

hospital stays

  • challenges – rotating staff, face masks, feeling ill, unfamiliar with our needs
  • suggestions – use a speech-to-text app on a mobile device, use a white board, pen and paper or boogie board

police stops

  • challenges – may have poor lighting, passing car noise, nervousness
  • suggestions – disclose your hearing loss right away before reaching for any hearing devices. Some states have a visor card for communication with police. You can also use a white board, pen and paper or boogie board. At night, explain the need for facial lighting.

restaurants

  • challenges – usually have competing noise from other people and music, and sound bounces off of hard surfaces.
  • suggestions – use strategy to reduce the noise:
        • call ahead and ask for a quiet area
        • go early when it is quieter
        • choose a quiet restaurant
        • ask to sit at the quietest table
        • choose a specific seat, I like my back to the wall.
        • look for good lighting
        • ask staff to turn music down/off
        • try apps like SoundPrint for help in big cities
  • read about how to hear better in a noisy restaurant

work meetings or classrooms

  • challenges – people are too far away, not facing us, multiple people talking
  • suggestions – you are entitled to accommodations under the ADA. Request CART ahead of time if needed or use a speech-to-text app on your phone, which can keep a transcript you can review later.  Ask for meeting/class agendas and written materials ahead of time. In a classroom, you must advocate for your needs with the student disability center or special education department. Accommodations may include a personal assistive listening system with a microphone the teacher wears, captioned videos, written materials, a note taker or CART, etc. based on your needs. Sit up front and ask the teacher to repeat comments from other parts of the room. PowerPoint and Google Slides have built-in captions available.
Gathering Sound