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Effective Communication in the Family

 

by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.

 

Being hard of hearing is not easy-especially when hearing people fail to accommodate our unique hearing needs. Unfortunately, our very own families are often the worst offenders in this regard.

Corinne’s family exhibits this all too typical cavalier attitude towards their own hard of hearing family members. She explains, “My husband’s family makes fun of me and my hearing loss. They make fun of my hard of hearing father-in-law too. They keep the TV blasting whether anyone is watching it or not. They speak from different rooms. I get so angry because they don’t do a danged thing to make it easier for us to hear.”

This destructive anger needs to be channeled into constructive avenues so that instead of being part of the problem, we become a part of the solution. Linda, a hard of hearing social worker explains, “Somehow we need to work on transferring the anger we feel over how we’re unfairly treated, into strong, confident assertiveness.

This is not easy, but it is necessary for our own mental health. Linda continues, “We need to think of possible solutions as to how we can handle our families without showing anger or ‘giving in’ and then hating ourselves for it.”

After thinking about this, Karen, another hard of hearing lady, lamented, “I wish a form letter was available for download which a person could give to those family members who need to be educated.” Such a letter needs to set the tone of mutual co-operation, emphasizing that communication is a two-way street, so that effective communication will take place.

Karen’s wish has now come true. I have created a letter that contains seven basic tips that can make communication between hard of hearing and hearing people ever so much easier.

To obtain your own copy of this attractive two-page letter in pdf format to send to your own family, friends or coworkers, simply click on Dear Family Letter. Print this letter out, put the person’s name in the salutation line, sign your name at the end and personally give it to those family, friends or coworkers with whom you have trouble communicating. At the same time, express your desire that they will read it and put these basic principles into practice so you can have free and easy conversation with them.

Although it contains copyrighted material, I hereby give you permission to copy it in its entirety (including my copyright notice) and distribute it to whomever you wish.

I hope it will facilitate a better understanding of our communication needs, and ultimately, a closer bond between us and our families, friends and coworkers.

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Hearing Loss Research & Resources

Free Visor Cards

Download your free Visor Cards for hard of hearing or deaf people here.

Loop Systems

Loop your home or meeting room. Discover how you can hear wonderfully clear sound again when listening to the TV/radio, etc, or when listening to a speaker at a meeting.

Loop systems are one of the best-kept secrets in town. To learn more about Loop Systems and what they can do for you, click here.

Take Control of Your Tinnitus—Here’s How

If your ears ring, buzz, chirp, hiss, click or roar, you know just how annoying tinnitus can be. You do not have to put up with this racket for the rest of your life. This book teaches you many things you can do to help bring your tinnitus under your control so it no longer bothers you.

Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

Sounds Now Too Loud for You?

Hypersensitive to Sound front coverIf some (or all) normal sounds seem so loud they “blow the top of your head off”, or make you wince or jump, or cause you headaches or ear pain, or affect your balance, or result in fear or annoyance of sounds so you feel you have to avoid these sounds, this book is for you!

Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

Hearing Phantom Sounds?

When hard of hearing people begin hearing phantom voices or music, they immediately worry they are going crazy. It never crosses their minds that they are sane and are just experiencing Musical Ear syndrome.

To learn more about the strange phantom sounds of Musical Ear syndrome and what you can do about them, click here to read a comprehensive article about Musical Ear Syndrome.

Or get the book—Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

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Center for Hearing Loss Help

Neil G. Bauman, Ph.D.

1013 Ridgeway Drive, Lynden,
WA 98264-1057 USA

Email: neil@hearinglosshelp.com

Phone: 360-778-1266 (M-F 9:00 AM-5:00 PM PST)

© 2025 Center for Hearing Loss Help – Help for your hearing loss, tinnitus and other ear conditions

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life [which also includes perfect hearing] through Jesus Christ our Lord." [Romans 6:23]

"But know this, in the last days perilous times will come" [2 Timothy 3:1]. "For there will be famines, pestilences, and [severe] earthquakes in various places" [Matthew 24:7], "distress of nations, the sea and the waves roaring"—tsunamis, hurricanes—Luke 21:25, but this is good news if you have put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, for "when these things begin to happen, lift up your heads [and rejoice] because your redemption draws near" [Luke 21:28].