Rehab at Home for Adults: Overhearing Conversation

Welcome back to our Rehab at Home for Adults series where you can learn how to reach everyday listening goals and improve your hearing. Today’s goal is about overhearing conversation.

Everyday Listening Goal 4: To Overhear Conversation

There are definitely times that we do not want to overhear conversations, for example on the bus. However, overhearing conversations at home or in the workplace can help us understand people’s thoughts and feelings. This makes it easier for us to understand and predict how people behave.

In this video, you will meet Soomaiya, who got a cochlear implant 13 years ago following the sudden loss of her hearing. Soomaiya understands the value of overhearing conversations between her daughters; Zahra, Zayna, and Zeenat. She explains it lets her to recognize any problems and help them when needed. Soomaiya asks her daughters to help her practice an overhearing activity.

Here are some additional tips to help you achieve the goal of overhearing conversation.

To Get Started

• Ask two friends to have a short (2–3 sentences) conversation in a quiet place.
• Tell them to ask each other common questions on a familiar topic of your choice. Stand close, but don’t look at them.
• Repeat what you think you heard.

As You Progress

• Ask two friends to have a short (2–3 sentences) conversation in a quiet place.
• Tell them to ask each other questions on any topic of their choice.
• Repeat what you think you heard.
• If correct, increase the distance.

Once You’re Almost There

• Turn on the TV or radio softly in the background and ask two friends to have a short (2–3 sentences) conversation.
• Tell them to ask each other questions on any topic of their choice.
• Repeat what you think you heard.
• If correct, increase the volume of the background noise.

Overhearing others is easier when you have hearing in both ears.

If you use a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the other, you can download additional information here: Rehabilitation for Bimodal Users.

If you received two cochlear implants at the same time (or are about to) download additional information here: Simultaneous Cochlear Implant Users.

If you received your second cochlear implant sometime after your first one (or are about to) download additional information here: Long Interval Sequential Cochlear Implantation.