1. Problem-solving everyday communication difficulties
Notes to the facilitator (not to read out to the group):
This presentation is a series of situations that describe possible challenging hearing scenarios for people of different walks of life. There are three possible solutions for each situation, with the understanding that there might not be a perfect solution.
With no right or wrong answers, this presentation encourages reflection, critical thinking, and strategy to make communication easier for your participants and the important people in their life.
Each slide will contain the approximate duration of the activity, but discussions may run longer than estimated. A suggested script for the facilitator to read out to the group is also provided.
As you prepare, remember that it is best that the facilitator aim to do no more than 30% of the talking during the sessions. This gives room for the group to share experiences, insights and suggestions on how to cope with issues related to their hearing difficulties. The activities are designed to cater for the different personalities in the group and will allow time for the person to participate both in a reflective and a more active manner.
What: Introduction
Time: 1 minute
Script:
Welcome to this session on problem solving everyday situation difficulties. In this activity we will look at situations most of us find ourselves in frequently and discuss opportunities for making these situations easier for ourselves.
This will allow us to learn from others, to come to new insights about how we manage life with hearing loss, and share our experiences with the rest of the group.

2. About the Ida Institute
We believe that every person and every
hearing loss is unique.
We work with hearing care professionals and people with hearing loss from around the world to develop and integrate person-centered care in hearing care.
Together we develop knowledge and tools to strengthen the counseling process, enabling people to express their individual needs and preferences and take ownership of their
hearing care.
Helping people hear is about
knowing how to listen.
Facts
Non-profit organization established in 2007
Funded by the William Demant Foundation
14,000 + members in the Ida Community
What: About the Ida Institute
Time: 1 minute
Script:
The Ida Institute has developed this resource for consumer organizations for encouraging discussion, exploration and reflection on everyday communication situations.
Ida Institute is a non-profit based in Denmark, founded in 2007 with a grant from the Demant foundation.
Person-centered care is at the core of Ida’s mission. The aim of a person-centered approach to hearing care is to engage and motivate the patients in their own treatment in order to achieve better outcomes and more satisfied patients.

3. Ground rules for a safe sharing environment
Confidentiality (what happens in the group stays in the group)
Listening is just as important as sharing your experience
Respect each other
Do not interrupt each other
The group takes joint responsibility for each discussion
Give constructive, non-judgmental feedback
Freely ask for support from the group
What: Ground Rules
Note: Your group members are more likely to share their experiences when this takes place in a safe environment. It is important that we create this environment by setting ground rules early on in the meeting. This will help everyone feel at ease during feedback situations.
The ground rules are shown above.
Before moving on it will be important to ask the participants whether they all agree to the ground rules above.
Time: 2 minutes
Script:
People are more likely to share their experiences when the sharing of personal experiences takes place in a safe and non-judgemental environment. It is important that we all create this environment by setting ground rules early on in the meeting. This will help everyone feel at ease during feedback situations.
The ground rules are shown on this slide:
Confidentiality (what happens in the group stays in the group)
Listening is just as important as sharing your experience
Respect each other
Do not interrupt each other
The group takes joint responsibility for each discussion
Give constructive, non-judgmental feedback
Freely ask for support from the group
Before moving on it will be important that we all agree to the ground rules above.
Is there anyone who does not agree or would like to add something to the ground rules on this slide?

4. Possible communication strategies
What: Possible Communication Strategies
Time: 1 minute
Script:
On the following slides we will look at seven different communication strategies. Afterwards we will look at different everyday situations, and discuss how we each manage these situations and which of those strategies can be applied when we find ourselves in those situations. The strategies are by no means exhaustive, and we will also discuss any possible new strategies that might be helpful.

5. Position yourself
1. When attending events, position yourself in the best place for communication. Make sure to face the speaker. Sit at the end of the table. This provides the best view of others. If hearing is better in one ear, keep your good ear facing the speaker.

6. Make a plan ahead of time
2. Think about the communication situation ahead of time. Will there be a lot of background noise? Is there one person in particular you want to communicate with? Make a strategy for how you will manage the situation before you get there.

7. Do not bluff
3. If you do not understand a message, ask the other person to repeat or rephrase. Asking people to rephrase is often more helpful than asking them to repeat the same thing over and over again.

8. Acknowledge you have a hearing loss
4. Tell others that you have a hearing loss and explain the difficulties you have. Ask them to tell you what they are talking about and try to suggest ways that they can help improve communication.

9. Organize your environment
5. Try to reduce background noise by, for example, closing doors or windows.

10. Ask for clarification
6. Be specific about what you did not hear. If you have understood part of the conversation, only ask for the part you misunderstood to be repeated. Remember to tell the other person the part of the conversation you did understand, so they only need to repeat the part you didn’t understand.

11. Analyze why you are experiencing difficulty
7. Make a specific request. Ask people to face you when they are speaking. Ask others to speak a little more slowly. This makes speech easier to understand.

12. Difficult communication situations and how to tackle them
Title Slide Only

13. Situation Shopping What: Shopping Time: 5 minute Script:
This is an everyday activity for many of us. Whether it is in a large supermarket, a local store around the corner, or a clothing store, we all do some form of shopping. By show of hands can you tell me who finds this situation to be:
Easy
Medium difficulty
Hard
For those who find this situation to be challenging, can you explain why that is?
For those who raised their hand at easy, what do you do specifically that makes it easy?

14. Possible Strategies Position yourself Make a plan ahead of time
Acknowledge you have a hearing loss
Do not bluff
Organize your environment
Ask for clarification
Analyze why you are experiencing difficulty
Other?
Who can help you?
Friend
Sibling
Spouse
Audiologist
Co-worker
Other
What: Discuss Possible Strategies
Time: 5 minutes
Script:
Ask the group:
When we think back on the different possible strategies, is there one specific on this slide that can be useful?
Are there any other ways of making this situation easier?
From the box on the right, is there anyone who can be of help to you in this situation?

15. Situation In a noisy environment What: In a Noisy Environment
Time: 5 minute
Script:
We very often find ourselves in places that are noisy, and these are typically the most difficult places to hear someone talking, even with hearing aids. This can be a restaurant, a bar, a train, crowded markets or malls, a simply a place with loud air-conditioning. By show of hands can you tell me who finds this situation to be:
Easy
Medium difficulty
Hard
For those who find this situation to be challenging, can you explain why that is?
For those who raised their hand at easy, what do you do specifically that makes it easy?

16. Possible Strategies Position yourself Make a plan ahead of time
Acknowledge you have a hearing loss
Do not bluff
Organize your environment
Ask for clarification
Analyze why you are experiencing difficulty
Other?
Who can help you?
Friend
Sibling
Spouse
Audiologist
Co-worker
Other
What: Discuss Possible Strategies
Time: 5 minutes
Script:
Ask the group:
When we think back on the different possible strategies, is there one specific on this slide that can be useful?
Are there any other ways of making this situation easier?
From the box on the right, is there anyone who can be of help to you in this situation?

17. Communicating with family
Situation
Communicating with family
What: Communicating with Family
Time: 5 minute
Script:
This can be big family dinners where there are many people gathered around a large table and many conversations taking place at the same time.
By show of hands can you tell me who finds this situation to be:
Easy
Medium difficulty
Hard
For those who find this situation to be challenging, can you explain why that is?
For those who raised their hand at easy, what do you do specifically that makes it easy?

18. Possible Strategies Position yourself Make a plan ahead of time
Acknowledge you have a hearing loss
Do not bluff
Organize your environment
Ask for clarification
Analyze why you are experiencing difficulty
Other?
Who can help you?
Friend
Sibling
Spouse
Audiologist
Co-worker
Other
What: Discuss Possible Strategies
Time: 5 minutes
Script:
Ask the group:
When we think back on the different possible strategies, is there one specific on this slide that can be useful?
Are there any other ways of making this situation easier?
From the box on the right, is there anyone who can be of help to you in this situation?

19. Communicating with spouse
Situation
Communicating with spouse
What: Communicating with spouse
Time: 5 minute
Script:
For many of us, the person we talk most to is our partner. As hearing loss is also a loss of communication, it can be challenging for both yourself, but also for your partner.
By show of hands can you tell me who finds this situation to be:
Easy
Medium difficulty
Hard
For those who find this situation to be challenging, can you explain why that is?
For those who raised their hand at easy, what do you do specifically that makes it easy?

20. Possible Strategies Position yourself Make a plan ahead of time
Acknowledge you have a hearing loss
Do not bluff
Organize your environment
Ask for clarification
Analyze why you are experiencing difficulty
Other?
Who can help you?
Friend
Sibling
Spouse
Audiologist
Co-worker
Other
What: Discuss Possible Strategies
Time: 5 minutes
Script:
Ask the group:
When we think back on the different possible strategies, is there one specific on this slide that can be useful?
Are there any other ways of making this situation easier?
From the box on the right, is there anyone who can be of help to you in this situation?

21. Situation Watching television What: Watching Television Time: 5 minute
Script:
By show of hands can you tell me who finds this situation to be:
Easy
Medium difficulty
Hard
For those who find this situation to be challenging, can you explain why that is?
For those who raised their hand at easy, what do you do specifically that makes it easy?

22. Possible Strategies Position yourself Make a plan ahead of time
Acknowledge you have a hearing loss
Do not bluff
Organize your environment
Ask for clarification
Analyze why you are experiencing difficulty
Other?
Who can help you?
Friend
Sibling
Spouse
Audiologist
Co-worker
Other
What: Discuss Possible Strategies
Time: 5 minutes
Script:
Ask the group:
When we think back on the different possible strategies, is there one specific on this slide that can be useful?
Are there any other ways of making this situation easier?
From the box on the right, is there anyone who can be of help to you in this situation?

23. Communicating on the phone
Situation
Communicating on the phone
What: on the Phone
Time: 5 minute
Script:
By show of hands can you tell me who finds this situation to be:
Easy
Medium difficulty
Hard
For those who find this situation to be challenging, can you explain why that is?
For those who raised their hand at easy, what do you do specifically that makes it easy?

24. Possible Strategies Position yourself Make a plan ahead of time
Acknowledge you have a hearing loss
Do not bluff
Organize your environment
Ask for clarification
Analyze why you are experiencing difficulty
Other?
Who can help you?
Friend
Sibling
Spouse
Audiologist
Co-worker
Other
What: Discuss Possible Strategies
Time: 5 minutes
Script:
Ask the group:
When we think back on the different possible strategies, is there one specific on this slide that can be useful?
Are there any other ways of making this situation easier?
From the box on the right, is there anyone who can be of help to you in this situation?

25. Situation Listening in church What: Listening in Church Time: 5 minute
Script:
By show of hands can you tell me who finds this situation to be:
Easy
Medium difficulty
Hard
For those who find this situation to be challenging, can you explain why that is?
For those who raised their hand at easy, what do you do specifically that makes it easy?

26. Possible Strategies Position yourself Make a plan ahead of time
Acknowledge you have a hearing loss
Do not bluff
Organize your environment
Ask for clarification
Analyze why you are experiencing difficulty
Other?
Who can help you?
Friend
Sibling
Spouse
Audiologist
Co-worker
Other
What: Discuss Possible Strategies
Time: 5 minutes
Script:
Ask the group:
When we think back on the different possible strategies, is there one specific on this slide that can be useful?
Are there any other ways of making this situation easier?
From the box on the right, is there anyone who can be of help to you in this situation?

27. Participating in a meeting
Situation
Participating in a meeting
What: Meetings
Time: 5 minute
Script:
By show of hands can you tell me who finds this situation to be:
Easy
Medium difficulty
Hard
For those who find this situation to be challenging, can you explain why that is?
For those who raised their hand at easy, what do you do specifically that makes it easy?

28. Possible Strategies Position yourself Make a plan ahead of time
Acknowledge you have a hearing loss
Do not bluff
Organize your environment
Ask for clarification
Analyze why you are experiencing difficulty
Other?
Who can help you?
Friend
Sibling
Spouse
Audiologist
Co-worker
Other
What: Discuss Possible Strategies
Time: 5 minutes
Script:
Ask the group:
When we think back on the different possible strategies, is there one specific on this slide that can be useful?
Are there any other ways of making this situation easier?
From the box on the right, is there anyone who can be of help to you in this situation?

29. Situation Going to cinema What: Cinema Time: 5 minute Script:
By show of hands can you tell me who finds this situation to be:
Easy
Medium difficulty
Hard
For those who find this situation to be challenging, can you explain why that is?
For those who raised their hand at easy, what do you do specifically that makes it easy?

30. Possible Strategies Position yourself Make a plan ahead of time
Acknowledge you have a hearing loss
Do not bluff
Organize your environment
Ask for clarification
Analyze why you are experiencing difficulty
Other?
Who can help you?
Friend
Sibling
Spouse
Audiologist
Co-worker
Other
What: Discuss Possible Strategies
Time: 5 minutes
Script:
Ask the group:
When we think back on the different possible strategies, is there one specific on this slide that can be useful?
Are there any other ways of making this situation easier?
From the box on the right, is there anyone who can be of help to you in this situation?

31. Situation Communicating in a car What: Communicating in a car
Time: 5 minute
Script:
When we are in a car, we are often not able to face the person we are talking with, and we cannot position ourselves in any other way while driving. So someone might be sitting so that they are speaking in our “bad” ear, or we cannot see the mouth of the person talking to us.
By show of hands can you tell me who finds this situation to be:
Easy
Medium difficulty
Hard
For those who find this situation to be challenging, can you explain why that is?
For those who raised their hand at easy, what do you do specifically that makes it easy?

32. Possible Strategies Position yourself Make a plan ahead of time
Acknowledge you have a hearing loss
Do not bluff
Organize your environment
Ask for clarification
Analyze why you are experiencing difficulty
Other?
Who can help you?
Friend
Sibling
Spouse
Audiologist
Co-worker
Other
What: Discuss Possible Strategies
Time: 5 minutes
Script:
Ask the group:
When we think back on the different possible strategies, is there one specific on this slide that can be useful?
Are there any other ways of making this situation easier?
From the box on the right, is there anyone who can be of help to you in this situation?

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twitter.com/IdaInstitute