Over my decades of hearing aid use, I have often been led to remark to myself and occasionally to others, that there is a huge difference between hearing, and listening. Many with great hearing are poor listeners.
Those dealing with the hearing reduced; patients like myself, should be expected to work harder to truly listen. The world would be a better place if everyone did that, but for anyone dealing with, or working for the hearing impared, it is an essential requirement! Those fortunate enough to actually be able to hear better than I, should not be found to listen less!
I am starting this thread in the hopes that we can all benefit by encouraging better listening clarity. This requires that both sides in a conversation continually question what is really being asked, what is being said, what understanding is needed, what is being missed by oneself or the other person.
We the hard of hearing, can still communicate, and we must help educate those who can hear better than us to listen better as well!
Basics include listening to better understand what the speaker is truly saying and what she might not know full well exactly that she needs to ask. It also includes both sides giving more thought to how the other might or might not *hear" what we are saying and what more might we need to hear from them and they from us!