Rehab at Home for Adults: Understanding Conversation While in the Car

Tips for Conversations While in the Car

Here are some additional tips to help you achieve the goal of understanding conversation while in the car.

To Get Started

• Before driving anywhere, sit in the car and listen to the noises it makes (e.g., switch on the turn indicators and windscreen wipers). Listen to these sounds and become familiar with them.
• Reduce noise by putting the windows up, turning the fan on the air conditioner down, and switching the radio off.
• Travel in the car as a passenger first. Ask a family member or a friend to drive and talk about a familiar topic.

As You Progress

• Drive somewhere familiar so you don’t need to concentrate on directions.
• Ask a friend or family member to travel with you as the passenger and discuss a familiar topic. Keep sentences short and clear.
• Turn on your navigation system to practice listening to directions on a familiar journey.

Once You’re Almost There

• Drive while having a conversation with a friend or family member without a set topic. Use communication strategies if you get stuck.
• If you are driving alone, listen to a podcast, or challenge yourself with different radio stations.
• Check the route before you start out and then listen to your navigation system for directions to a new destination.

As Soomaiya explained, the use of a remote microphone can improve conversations in the car. Your communication partner wears this around their neck or on their shirt, and their speech is sent straight to your audio processor. This means the background noise does not interfere with your ability to understand conversation.