The pandemic significantly changed the way we work. Instead of commuting to the office each morning, many of us now work from a designated room in our homes. While working remotely offers greater flexibility and freedom, it can also present challenges, especially for employees who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Because many workplace meetings take place over the phone or through video conferencing rather than in person, communication barriers can make it difficult for employees with hearing loss to interact effectively with colleagues. As remote work becomes more common, finding ways to help deaf and hard-of-hearing employees stay involved and feel confident communicating on the job is essential.
To help create a more accessible work-from-home environment, El Dorado Hearing has compiled these tips for helping deaf and hard-of-hearing employees navigate virtual work.
1. Encourage Cameras to Be On During Meetings
At the beginning of the pandemic, many people turned their cameras on for video calls. Over time, however, employees may become more comfortable leaving their cameras off during meetings.
For employees with hearing loss, visual cues such as facial expressions and lip movements can help make communication easier. Encouraging participants to keep their cameras on when possible can help colleagues follow conversations more effectively.
Organizations should also consider individual accessibility needs and provide alternative accommodations when keeping a camera on is not practical.
2. Send Out and Follow a Written Agenda
The larger the conference call, the harder it can be to follow the conversation, especially when several participants speak at once. While overlapping conversations can be confusing for anyone, they may be particularly challenging for people with hearing loss.
To help ensure that everyone can follow the discussion, send a written agenda before each meeting. This allows participants to review the topics in advance and understand what will be discussed, even if they miss part of the conversation because of audio difficulties.
During the meeting, follow the agenda and clearly communicate when the discussion moves to a new topic. Sharing presentation slides, written summaries, and relevant documents can provide additional support.
3. Establish a No-Interruption Policy
During virtual meetings, it can be difficult to recognize physical cues indicating that a colleague wants to contribute or ask a question. As a result, multiple participants may speak over one another, making the conversation harder to understand.
Establishing meeting guidelines can help reduce interruptions and improve accessibility. Encourage participants to:
- Allow one person to speak at a time.
- Mute their microphones when they are not speaking to reduce background noise.
- Use the virtual hand-raising feature to indicate when they want to contribute.
- Pause briefly between speakers to allow everyone to follow the discussion.
These practices can make meetings easier to follow for employees with hearing loss and help everyone participate more comfortably.
4. Record Important Meetings
Recording important meetings, when permitted and with appropriate notice and consent, can help employees revisit information they may have missed. Even when participants follow meeting guidelines, keep their cameras on, and stick to the agenda, someone with hearing loss may still find it difficult to follow the entire discussion.
A recording may allow employees to review specific sections at their own pace. However, recordings alone may not resolve every accessibility challenge.
Whenever possible, supplement recordings with accurate captions, meeting transcripts, written notes, or summaries. These options can make important information easier to access and review.
5. Schedule a Diagnostic Hearing Evaluation
If hearing difficulties are affecting your ability to communicate while working from home, a professional hearing evaluation can help identify the type and extent of any hearing loss.
At El Dorado Hearing, hearing specialists provide comprehensive hearing evaluations to assess hearing ability and discuss appropriate management options. You can also get started by taking the online hearing quiz.
Following an evaluation, a hearing specialist can discuss options that may help you hear and communicate more effectively. Depending on your needs, these may include hearing aids or other assistive listening solutions.
The team strives to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment where patients can discuss their hearing concerns and explore personalized options. For hearing testing in Tucson, AZ, contact El Dorado Hearing to learn more about available services.
If you are ready to address your hearing concerns and improve communication during the workday, visit one of our hearing clinics. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our hearing specialists.