This is Class II, Lesson 13, Required Reading 2.

COMMUNICATION STRATEGIESSOME BASIC CONCEPTS.

Dr. Scott J. Bally, P.W.H.L.

Learn the basic concepts of communication strategy use:

Learn a work definition of communication strategies

Be able to enumerate communication strategies that might benefit you

Consider strategies along a time continuum Understand that hearing loss is only one factor

that may cause communication problems Determine the locus of communication problems Address the contributing factors individually

and realistically Identify the multi-modal sensory and cognitive factors that contribute to understanding

“Anything one can do to enable or enhance the communication process”

Examples:Buy a hearing aid.Ask someone to say it again.Turn up the lights.Confirm what someone says.“Please write it down.”Read about hearing lossTake a lipreading class.Join HLAA to get some pointers.

When hearing loss interferes with communication When environmental factors interfere with

communication When we want communication partners to

change their communication behaviors When communication breaks down When we want to prevent communication from

breaking down When we want to prepare for communication to

maximize the likelihood of understanding

Or, any combination of the aboveOr, any combination of the above

Anticipatory strategies: things we can do to prepare for communication situations

Maintenance strategies: things we can do during communication to prevent it from breaking down

Repair strategies: Things we can do to fix communication if it does break down

Post-communication Assessment: Evaluating communication after it has occurred to determine what worked…and what didn’t!

Many people with hearing loss are able to communicate easily in some situations…but not in others.

Often, if the person is in a quiet place, talking with a familiar person who is sitting is directly across sitting across from her… communication tends to be easy.

In other situations…in noisy rooms or with strangers, communication may be extremely frustrating and difficult.

Based on those experiences You can conclude that HEARING LOSS IS ONLY PART OF THE PROBLEM

THINK AGAIN!!

We are more likely to see some words in We are more likely to see some words in specific situations (deposit, withdrawal, specific situations (deposit, withdrawal, account, balance, receipt = banking).account, balance, receipt = banking).

We use different language structures in We use different language structures in different situations (interview = questions different situations (interview = questions and answers; Uncle Ed’s storytelling = and answers; Uncle Ed’s storytelling = narrative).narrative).

We can fill in the blank ( “Nancy broke We can fill in the blank ( “Nancy broke her leg and used XXXX to help her walk.”).her leg and used XXXX to help her walk.”).

We also know when words don’t “fit” We also know when words don’t “fit” (Nancy broke her leg and used peanut (Nancy broke her leg and used peanut butter to help her walk.”) .butter to help her walk.”) .

Auditory plus Visual plus Context plus Linguistic Knowledge

By combining the input modes , we may get more than the sum of the parts.For example, we might get 30% of the information through listening and 30% through lipreading…but when we combine the 2, we might get 70 or 80%.Given this reasoning,

2 + 2 does = 52 + 2 does = 5

No idea what she’s

saying

1.The behaviors of other people (hand covering mouth, lack of eye contact, mumbling, accents, etc.)

Communication situations are complex.

Difficulties understanding because of hearing loss may be compounded by problems with: the speaker, the listener (that would be you), the environment, and/or the message.

In Summary Maintain a broad definition of

communication strategies. Be able to enumerate communication

strategies that might benefit you. Consider strategies along a time

continuum. Understand that hearing loss is only one

factor that may cause communication problems.

Determine the locus of communication problems.

Address the contributing factors individually and realistically.

Identify the multi-modal sensory and cognitive factors that

contribute to understanding.