We all want to feel like we have a voice that’s heard, especially when it comes to our careers. But hearing loss can make us feel like our voice is being silenced.
Keep Lines Of Communication Open At Work
Being an advocate for yourself and others will not only improve workplace communication but raise overall awareness for hearing loss. Talk to your employer or the meeting organizer about your hearing loss needs. Have a plan before you start remote or in-person meetings.
Use video: If you’re working from home, you need to see faces, lips, and visual cues to clarify conversations.
The importance of light sources: Lighting in front of your face will keep shadows from obstructing your mouth. It will spare you asking others to repeat themselves if you ask your coworkers to do the same.
Chit chat: Use the start of the meeting to chat with your coworkers and troubleshoot audio problems before you talk business.
Manners matter: Don’t interrupt others and don’t cover your mouth while you’re speaking.
Use your mute button: It will reduce background noise, and you won’t have to worry about feedback interfering with your hearing.
Block Out Background Distractions
The kids are screaming, the phone is ringing, and you’re pretty sure someone’s knocking at the door. All this noise will compete with your work calls. Earbuds, headphones, and Bluetooth hearing aids are excellent options to eliminate background noise. Bluetooth hearing aids can wirelessly pair with any of your smart devices. You’ll get natural-sounding audio delivered right to your hearing aids. It’s also a hands-free application, so you can keep working while you listen.
Using Captions For Workplace Communication
Captions are essential to quality communication and understanding. If you have trouble seeing or hearing your coworkers over video chat, captions are the way to go. Captions can be typed by the webinar host or assigned to someone else.
- Zoom: Utilize, manage, or type closed captions as a meeting organizer or participant.
- Google Meet: Video meeting captions are available for computers, iPhones and iPads, and Androids.
- Google Voice: Transcribe or dictate your work in real-time.
- Microsoft Office: Record and transcribe your words as you conduct on-screen presentations.
Contact Hearing Associates to learn how we can help improve your hearing loss and workplace communication. Call 888.760.2032 to learn more about our evaluation and hearing aid services.