Hearing

Workplace adjustments and solutions

Depending on the type and extent of hearing loss and the type of industry worked in, there are a range of strategies to assist in communicating with individuals that have hearing impairment.

The type of work environment can have an impact on how people who are deaf or hard of hearing manage in the workplace.  Below are some points to concider:

• avoid speaking in areas with poor lighting as this may limit the capacity of an individual to see the speakers face, body or lips to assist in their understanding
• ensure adequate space when communicating so the person with the hearing impairment can clearly see the speaker and their face
• avoid communicating essential information in noisy environments
• in environments when needing to call out to customers or patients, consider using ticket machines with number displays, ensure the person/s can see your face when calling out names or numbers or physically approach an individual and perhaps touch them on the shoulder to alert.

When communicating with someone who is deaf or hard of hearing always ensure the person you are speaking with has your full attention.  Avoid conversing whilst eating or smoking and use active listening and effective interpersonal communication skills.

• active listening
• interpersonal communication

It may be beneficial to use alternative methods of communication such as written methods i.e. email, paper and pen, message boards, use of body language or through physical demonstration if you are having difficulty getting the message across verbally.

When conversing with many people such as in staff meetings or training, consider alternative means of relaying the information i.e. present verbally and with powerpoint presentation or issue agendas, training manuals and meeting minutes to confirm any information that may be missed through verbal means:

• conversing with many people

Some individuals who are deaf or are hard of hearing may prefer to communicate using Auslan.  The Employment Assistance Fund can often provide funding assistance for deaf employees communicating via Auslan to obtain interpreters for key training needs, for an employee to attend training with a Registered Training Organisation to learn Auslan to support the Deaf worker in the workplace, or to provide deaf awareness training for co-workers of a deaf employee.  See the link below for more information and eligibility criteria:

• Employment Assistance Fund

Above all, when communicating with individuals that are hard of hearing or deaf, always communicate with respect and ensure you are treating them how you would like to be treated.

There is a range of equipment options available that can assist with communication within the workplace:

• using paging devices
• using a telephone (or call centre equipment) - ability to hear
• using a two-way radio
• transcribing dictation
• responding to warning systems
• responding to machinery or vehicle sounds
• accessing audio
• working with medical and dental equipment
  

Related links

• Australian Hearing - How do we hear?
• Better Health Channel – Communicating at work http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Hearing_loss_
  communicating_at_work?open

References

• Accessing audio
• Active listening
• Conversing with many people
• Hearing
• Interpersonal communication
• Responding to machinery or vehicle sounds
• Responding to warning systems
• Transcribing dictation
• Using a telephone (or call centre equipment)
• Using a telephone (or call centre equipment)—ability to hear
• Using a two-way radio
• Using paging devices
• Working with medical and dental equipment