Top 10 Tips to Communicate with a Person with Dementia and Hearing Loss

Originally posted in the Bambu Care Champions community.

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1. Minimize background noise. You want them to be able to focus as best as they can without distractions.
2. Get the person's attention first, by approaching them from the front and getting on their eye level. You want to make sure they can see you and know that you are talking to them. You may also need to touch their arm or leg to help get or keep their attention.
3. Make sure your mouth is visible. It helps a person to be able to 1) know you are talking, but 2) read your lips, if possible.
4. Speak clearly and slowly, but do not over exaggerate your words or talk super unnatural.
5. Try lowering your tone before raising your voice. People with hearing loss tend to lose higher frequencies first.
6. Keep your sentences short and to the point.
7. Use non-verbal cues such as gestures and facial expressions to help support what you are saying.
8. Use the support of visual aids if necessary by demonstrating, pointing to objects, using signs and pictures, or writing words down to help convey your message.
9. If your partner didn't hear you the first time, repeat it the same way again a second time before rephrasing.
10. Frequently check for understanding.

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