Because I don’t really see this discussed on tumblr at all, here are a few ways that hearing people can make their deaf/HoH loved ones feel more included in social situations. A little extra effort can go a long way, and constantly having to advocate for yourself gets tiring.
Not all of us know how or have the ability to sign! Even if someone can sign, this also requires someone else who can in order to be understood by others.
Just because someone has a hearing aid/implant/whatever aid, does not mean it is a perfect solution and that they will be able to hear you as well as a hearing person. Wearing an aid can also be extremely overstimulating for many people, so they may choose not to wear one, or not use it in certain situations.
Actually *ask* your loved one to hang out, even if it’s an open invitiation to something like a Discord call. I don’t like joining other people’s conversations without an explicit invitation since I probably won’t be able to follow a conversation, especially if there’s a lot of people.
In group hangouts, I find it beneficial if there is an activity the group is doing that doesn’t involve audio cues (card games, crafts, etc). That way if I can’t follow a conversation, I can still feel included.
Please make sure that movies/shows/whatever have closed captions or subtitles.
Make sure you have someone’s attention before speaking to them, especially if they are not facing you. Ask how they would like to be alerted to speech, common ways are tap on the shoulder, flickering lights. Do NOT just start shouting at someone or act like they are daydreaming.
Speaking louder is not always better. Please attempt to speak clearly and enunciate words properly.
Hangout spots that don’t have a lot of background noise (music, lots of people talking) are better. When possible, try to limit these things if you are just hanging out at home.
Please be understanding that some of us may speak “funny”, or have trouble properly articulating our thoughts. I much prefer to communicate via writing over speaking.
Some of us will need extra help when interacting with unfamiliar people. Strangers are more difficult to understand than people I am familiar with.
Double check to make sure that they are aware of important information that might have gotten missed or confused. Write down important dates, phone numbers, whatever.
These are just some suggestions. Obviously, this is not an exaustive list and everyone is different. Please take a few minutes to ask your loved ones what their preferences are. What works for one person may not work for another.
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