Does your mother, your grandfather, or someone you care for at work keep asking you to repeat yourself?
I used to hear “Pardon?” all the time.
And every time, I said it again, only louder.
But here is the thing: speaking louder does not really help.
In fact, it can make things worse.
How would you feel if someone suddenly raised their voice at you?
You would probably be startled. You might even feel like you were being scolded.
People with hearing loss feel the same way.
So what should you do instead?
The answer is simple:
Speak like a TV news anchor.
Once I started doing this, older people began telling me, “You are so easy to understand!”
This article is for anyone who lives with an older family member, and for people who work in senior housing, day centers, or care homes. You do not need to know anything about hearing loss to use these tips.
In this article
- Why speaking louder often does not work
- 7 simple ways to be understood, starting today
- Tips for families and for care staff
Most People With Hearing Loss Can Hear Sound. The Problem Is the Words.
Why does a louder voice not get through?
Because many people with age-related hearing loss can still hear that you are talking. What they struggle with is making out the words.
Hearing loss that comes with age is usually a type called sensorineural hearing loss.
With this type, sounds do not just get quieter. They also become blurry.
Hard to imagine?
Think of a phone call with a bad signal. You can hear the voice on the other end, but some of the words get lost. It is a lot like that.
Take “fifteen” versus “fifty,” for example.
As hearing changes, words that sound alike become harder to tell apart.
Now imagine that happening again and again across a whole conversation.
In other words, your voice reaches them, but your words do not.
Speaking louder only makes the blurry sound bigger. The words stay just as unclear.
Of course, everyone is different, and some people do have trouble hearing sound itself.
Still, it helps to remember that louder is not always clearer.
To learn more, see our guide to the different types of hearing loss and our article on why hearing changes with age.
Why a Loud Voice Can Feel Noisy, or Even Angry
Recruitment: When Sounds Suddenly Get Too Loud
Many older adults with hearing loss experience something called recruitment.
Quiet sounds are hard to hear, but once a sound passes a certain level, it suddenly feels far too loud.
A normal voice is hard to hear. A slightly louder one rings painfully in the ear.
You can think of it as the comfortable range of loudness getting narrower.
So when you raise your voice, the words are still unclear, and the only thing that grows is the noise.
Imagine someone shouting at you in a language you do not know.
It would not help you understand at all.
You can read more in our article on recruitment.
Your Face Can Look Angry, Too
When we raise our voice, our face tends to tense up.
And when do people usually make a tense face and speak loudly? When they are angry.
Even if you are not upset at all, the other person may feel they are being told off.
If you felt scolded for no reason, you would not want to talk much either.
Some people start to feel bad about asking again, so they just nod and say “yes, yes” without understanding.
When conversations fade like this, it is lonely for the person and for everyone around them.
Hearing, conversation, and brain health are connected in ways researchers are still learning about. Find out more in our article on hearing loss and dementia.
What Does It Mean to Speak Like a News Anchor?
News anchors have to be understood by everyone watching, including viewers who do not hear well.
Their style comes down to two words: slowly and clearly.
Sounds obvious, right? But it is harder than it sounds.
The news is read at a calm, steady pace.
Many entertainment shows, on the other hand, have fast talk, several people speaking at once, and lots of music and sound effects.
That keeps a show lively, but it is hard to follow for someone with hearing loss.
Now think about a family dinner, or a busy afternoon at a day center. Sound familiar?
- The TV is on
- Everyone is talking at the same time
- The conversation moves fast
In a setting like this, an older person can easily get lost and stop enjoying the conversation.
Living in Japan?
Many older people in Japan say they watch NHK because its announcers are the easiest to understand. NHK news is known for its slow, clear reading style, which makes it a good model to copy.
7 Ways to Be Understood, Starting Today
None of these need special tools. Start with whichever feels easiest.
1. Say Their Name Before You Start
If you jump straight in, the first few words are often missed.
Say their name first, and wait until they look at you.
A voice from behind can be hard to notice, so move in front of them or gently touch their shoulder.
If they hear better on one side, speak to that side.
2. Let Them See Your Face and Mouth
People with hearing loss often use lip movements and facial expressions to follow what you say.
Face them directly, ideally at eye level. For someone in a wheelchair or in bed, crouch down.
A face mask hides your mouth and makes speech harder to follow. If they seem lost, try gestures or write it down.
3. Speak Slowly, Clearly, at a Normal Volume
A voice slightly louder than usual is enough.
What matters is not volume but saying each sound carefully.
Short pauses between phrases give them time to take in what you said.
4. Find a Quiet Spot
Turn the TV or radio down. Move away from the kitchen fan or the washing machine.
This alone can make a big difference.
For important conversations, choose a quiet place and talk one-on-one.
5. Use Short Sentences, One Idea at a Time
“After lunch, let us get changed, take your pills, and then…” is a lot to catch at once.
Instead, try: “Lunch is finished.” Then: “Now, your pills.”
One step at a time.
6. If They Ask Again, Say It a Different Way
When someone asks you to repeat yourself, it is tempting to say the same words louder.
But a hard-to-hear word stays hard to hear, no matter how many times you say it.
Try different words instead:
- “The day after tomorrow” → “Wednesday”
- “Your appointment” → “Your visit to the doctor”
Adding a gesture helps even more.
7. Write Down Anything Important
Dates, times, places, medicines: write down anything that would cause trouble if misheard.
Numbers are especially easy to mix up, like 3:15 and 3:50, so showing them on paper is reassuring.
A notepad, a calendar, a whiteboard: anything close at hand will do.
Tips for Families and for Care Staff
If You Live With an Older Family Member
- Turn the TV off or down during meals
- Sit close to them, facing them
- When the topic changes, say so: “We are talking about the trip now.”
- Phone calls are hard to follow, so share important news in person or in writing
If the TV volume is a daily source of tension at home, a TV speaker designed for clear speech can help everyone watch together at a comfortable level. See our Mirai Speaker review.
Also, watch for pretend understanding.
Signs include replies of only “yes, yes,” answers that do not match the question, and laughing at slightly different moments from everyone else.
When you notice it, do not blame them. Just try again in different words.
If their hearing seems to be getting worse, a hearing test with a doctor or audiologist is a good next step.
Hearing aids are also an option. Our overview of hearing aids explains the basics.
If You Work in Senior Housing or a Day Center
- Dining rooms and activity times are noisy. Give important messages up close, one-on-one
- When explaining something to a group, also show it on a whiteboard or on paper
- For pick-ups and bath time, approach from the front, say their name, and keep it short
- Share with your team which ear hears better, whether the person uses hearing aids, and what works best (such as writing)
- If a hearing aid user is asking for repeats more than usual, check for a dead battery or a forgotten hearing aid
Asking “Did you understand?” often gets a quick “yes.”
Checking together instead, as in “What time is your pick-up again?”, shows you whether the message really got through.
If a resident keeps taking their hearing aids out, our guide on why older adults refuse hearing aids has daily routines that care staff can share.
Summary
Speaking louder does not make you easier to understand.
Of course, mumbling quietly does not work either.
- Say their name and show your face
- Speak slowly, clearly, at a normal volume
- Find a quiet spot and use short sentences
- If it does not get through, rephrase it or write it down
And most of all, keep smiling and enjoy the conversation.
Hearing a sound and understanding words are not the same thing.
If you keep just that in mind, talking with the older people in your life can become much more enjoyable.
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