Creating a good listening environment

Discover how a good listening environment supports inclusion and how to create good listening conditions for deaf and hard of hearing children.

For deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children and young people, the conditions around them can make a big difference to inclusion. Creating a good listening environment is an important way you can support DHH kids in your programs.

Why listening conditions are important for DHH children

A good listening environment allows DHH people to hear better and understand what’s going on. Unlike children with normal hearing, DHH children find it hard to filter different sounds. This means background noise (like lots of people talking or music coming through speakers) gets mixed with important sounds such as a coach speaking.

Hearing aids or implants make all sounds louder, including background noise. Creating an environment where DHH kids can hear you speak will aid their understanding of sounds and language.

Tips for creating good listening conditions

Find a place with deaf-friendly acoustics.

Conditions in a room can make it easier or harder to hear. For example, hard surfaces can cause sounds to bounce around. This echo effect can make it harder to hear. Soft surfaces like carpet and furnishings like curtains absorb sound, helping reduce echo. You could also consider installing sound insulation and double glazing.

Reduce background noise

For a child to understand speech, the speaker’s voice needs to be louder than any background noise. Find a quiet place to talk to the child. Turn off anything that contributes to background noise, such as a television or radio. If other people are making a lot of noise, ask them to quieten down or move to another area. Close the door while you are speaking.

Use an FM system

FM systems work by transmitting signals from a microphone directly to a child’s hearing device. This helps to overcome problems related to distance and background noise.

Use visual alerts for safety features

In situations involving safety, such as fire, consider visual warning devices that use flashing or strobing lights to ensure important alerts are not missed.