• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Contact | 360-778-1266

Hearing Loss Help Store View Cart | Check Out

Center for Hearing Loss Help

Help for your hearing loss, tinnitus and other ear conditions

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Reference
    • Glossary of Ear Terms
    • Drug Pronunciation Guide
    • Looping Information
    • “Learn About Hearing”
    • Useful Links
  • Museum
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Visor Cards

Here’s How to “Force” People to Be Willing to Meet Your Communication Needs

by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.

A man asked,

What are some reliable methods and words I could use to find the self-confidence I need to be a better self-advocate for my hearing loss?

This is an excellent question. Too often, people with hearing losses find it very difficult to advocate for their needs. Thus learning about proven hearing loss coping strategies that work for others will give you some tools to put in your toolbox. Then you can pull them out and use them when needed.

Marcy has a great coping strategy tool for letting people know that she is hard of hearing and that, as a result, they need to change their communication habits in order for her to understand them.

She explained,

I always start by saying, “I am hard of hearing.” Then I say, “I am not sure if I already mentioned this before. If not, these are a couple of things that would make my life a lot easier. Would you be willing to help me?”

Then I stop and don’t say a word. (I will wait forever if need be for them to respond. Yes, it can get quiet, but you need to give them time to take in what you just said.)

Usually, they respond with, “I am so sorry, how can I help?”

I say, “Nothing to be sorry about! This is what you can do.” Then I give them two or three specific things they can do in that situation. These are short and simple tips—nothing too long—for they will forget (people have a lot on their minds).

This works for me every time. I now do it on the phone too. It works the same way.

When I first started doing this, my problem was remaining silent, waiting for them to respond. You have to wait. Sometimes I miss their response because I can’t hear them. That is okay. They will say it again…louder.

Now that you know this simple little coping strategy, you need to practice it. Remember, don’t rush in to fill the void. Wait for the other person to break that “pregnant pause”. This sort of “forces” them to be on your side. It works for Marcy. See how well it works for you.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

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

Glossary Navigation

  • Full List of Glossary Terms
  • A to Z Index

Footer

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].