Communication is something we create together
A hearing aid may help a person hear more clearly.
But hearing is only one part of communication.
Communication happens between people. It is how we share information, understand one another, make decisions, build relationships and take part in the world around us.
For a DeafBlind person, difficulties with hearing can change all of that.
One of our members described his experience very simply:
“Communication becomes very difficult.”
There is no long explanation.
There doesn’t need to be.
When Communication Breaks Down
When you cannot hear someone clearly and you also cannot see them, frustration can come quickly.
Our member describes that feeling in two words:
“I get very frustrated.”
But the difficulty does not stay with the person who cannot hear.
It enters the relationship.
He describes the effect on communication with his family as negative and says that it can cause conflicts.
With friends, colleagues and other people, he says communication is affected badly.
There is another consequence:
“You bore them and they think you ignore them.”
And sometimes, he feels left out.
“Yes, a lot.”
These are not simply problems with hearing.
They are problems with connection.
The Misunderstanding Behind the Misunderstanding
One of the hardest things about hearing loss can be that other people cannot always see what is happening.
Someone may think a person is ignoring them.
Someone may think they are not interested.
Someone may become frustrated because they have had to repeat themselves.
Meanwhile, the person who is DeafBlind may simply not have heard what was said.
The misunderstanding then becomes part of the problem.
And once communication becomes difficult, people can begin withdrawing from the conversation altogether.
That can mean missing information.
Missing opportunities.
Missing the ordinary conversations that connect people.
“They Should Speak Clearly and Not Shout.”
When asked what he wishes people understood about communicating with him, our member’s answer was direct:
“They should speak clearly and not shout.”
It is a simple request.
But it also tells us something important.
Communication cannot be placed entirely on the person who is struggling to hear.
If one person cannot hear clearly, the responsibility for successful communication does not suddenly belong to that person alone.
Communication is shared.
Both people are part of the conversation.
Both people affect whether understanding takes place.
More Than Hearing
Better hearing gives our member more information and allows him to communicate more freely.
He wants to hear discussions in meetings, music and radio.
He also speaks about the simple things that hearing makes possible.
“We sometime should have a happy conversation.”
That sentence is easy to overlook.
But ordinary conversation is part of belonging.
It is how families connect.
It is how friendships are maintained.
It is how people share jokes, opinions, news and stories.
When communication repeatedly breaks down, a person can be physically present while becoming increasingly separated from what is happening around them.
That is why communication is so closely connected to participation.
Being Present Is Not the Same as Participating
A person can sit in a meeting and still miss the meeting.
They can be with their family and still miss the conversation.
They can be surrounded by people and still feel left out.
For a DeafBlind person, the loss of hearing can therefore create a barrier that is much larger than the loss of sound itself.
It can affect the ability to contribute.
To respond.
To make decisions.
To share an opinion.
To simply be part of what everyone else is experiencing.
This is why Beyond Access cannot stop at the hearing aid.
The device may improve access to sound.
But participation depends on what happens between people.
Shared Communication
Shared communication does not mean that everyone communicates in exactly the same way.
It means recognising that communication is a relationship.
It requires people to meet each other somewhere in the middle.
It means understanding that when communication becomes difficult, frustration can occur on both sides.
It means not immediately assuming that someone is ignoring you, uninterested or unwilling to participate.
And it means recognising that the person experiencing hearing loss is not the only person who can influence whether communication succeeds.
Our member has already told us what happens when communication works better.
“I gain more information and I communicate freely.”
That freedom matters.
Because communication is not simply about hearing words.
It is about being able to take part in the conversation.
Beyond Access
This is the next step in our journey Beyond Access.
Last week, we looked at the hidden costs behind a hearing aid.
This week, we look beyond the device itself.
Because even the right assistive device cannot carry the entire responsibility for communication.
A hearing aid may help someone hear.
But shared communication helps people understand one another.
And when people can understand one another, there is greater opportunity to connect, contribute and participate.
For our member, better hearing means:
“Independence and living my life to the fullest.”
That is not just about hearing.
It is about being part of life.
And perhaps that is the real point of shared communication:
Nobody should have to carry the whole conversation alone.