Hearing

The capacity to hear clearly in some workplaces is critical to a persons success, productivity and safety. A person may not be carrying out instructions at work as requested or responding to calls for service because their hearing may be impaired, not because they are unable to complete the job.

Deafness and hearing loss can range from mild to profound and is caused by many different events. Hearing loss can occur over time and sometimes remains unnoticed, as compensatory techniques are often used such as avoiding talking in noisy environments (Better Health Channel 2007). See link below for more information:

• deafness and hearing loss 

An estimated 4.6 per cent of people between the ages of 18 and 44 have hearing loss, 14 per cent of people between the ages of 45 and 64 have hearing loss and 54 per cent of people over the age of 65 have hearing loss (Australian Association of the Deaf 2007).

Environmental issues

• avoid speaking in areas with poor lighting as this may limit the capacity of an individual to see the speakers face, body or lips to assist in their understanding
• ensure adequate space when communicating so the person with the hearing impairment can clearly see the speaker and their face
• avoid communicating essential information in noisy environments
• in environments when needing to call out to customers or patients—consider using ticket machines with number displays, ensuring all customers can see your face when calling out names or numbers or physically approach the individual

Other issues

• always ensure the person you are speaking with has your full attention and avoid conversing whilst eating or smoking, use active listening and effective interpersonal skills. See links below for more information:
  • active listening
  • interpersonal communication
• if a person uses Auslan, leave sufficient space between speakers for effective communication
• if unable to get message across verbally, try alternative methods such as written means i.e. email, paper and pen, message boards, use of body language or through physical demonstration
• do not shout but speak clearly
• when talking to many people such as in staff meetings or training, consider alternative means of relaying the information i.e. present verbally and with powerpoint presentation or issue agenda, training manuals and meeting minutes to confirm any information that may be missed through verbal means. See link below for more information:
  • conversing with many people
• consider the use of subtitles or captions on internal staff training videos

Employees using Auslan within the workplace

• consider use of the AFE program for funding assistance for deaf employees communicating via Auslan to obtain interpreters for key training needs
• consider one of your employees attending training with a registered training organisation (for example TAFE) to learn Auslan to support the Deaf worker within the workplace through the funding from the AFE program
• consider having a deaf awareness training session conducted within your workplace by an accredited trainer to highlight any particular needs to coworkers of the deaf employee through the AFE program

See the link below for more information on how the Auslan for Employment program can assist you:

• Auslan for Employment program

Above all, when communicating with people that are hard of hearing or deaf, always communicate with respect and ensure you are treating them how you would like to be treated.

Equipment options

A range of equipment options are available that can assist with communication within the workplace. See links below for further information.

References

Australian Hearing 2005, How do we hear, Department of Human Services, Sydney, viewed 13 July 2007, <http://www.hearing.com.au/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=38&languageId=1&contentId=-1>.

Australian Association of the Deaf Inc 2003, The Australian Deaf Community, Australian Association of the Deaf Inc, Brisbane, viewed 1 March 2007, <http://www.aad.org.au/info/deafcomm.php>.

Better Health Channel 2007, Hearing loss—communicating at work, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 13 July 2007, <http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Hearing_loss_communicating_at_work?open>.

WA Deaf Society Inc. 2006, Providing Accessible Services and Facilities for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, WA Deaf Society Inc., Perth, viewed 13 July 2007, http://wadeaf.onlinepublicity.net/media/docs/Providing_accessible_services_brochure2006.pdf.

Links to more specific job requirements for hearing