Helping audience members who are hard of hearing better engage in a presentation

Making presentations accessible and inclusive for all members of your audience is crucial for ensuring that everyone can fully understand and engage with the content. For those who are hard of hearing, this might require making some accommodations to ensure that they can fully participate and understand the content.

As a presenter, it’s essential for you to consider the needs of all members of your audience and make any necessary adjustments or accommodations to ensure that everyone can fully participate and understand the content and ideas being presented.

This might include providing written transcripts of any audio or video content, using a microphone, speaking clearly, and relying on visual aids. By taking the time to consider the needs of your audience and make appropriate accommodations, you get to create a presentation that is enjoyable and engaging for everyone.

After all, shouldn’t that always be the goal? Making sure everyone gets to benefit from your bright and insightful ideas?

5 Tips for helping audience members who are hard of hearing better engage

In this blog post, we’ll discuss five strategies that you can use to help audience members who are hard of hearing better engage in your presentations. From using visual aids to rocking that microphone to encouraging questions or pacing yourself, these tips will help you create a more inclusive environment that allows all members of your audience to fully participate and understand the content.

01. Offering accommodations in advance: If you are on a budget (aren’t we all) and you can’t provide specific accommodations by default, the very first step in making your presentation or event more inclusive to audience members who are hard of hearing is to make sure to ask them what accommodations they might need. This could include planning for sign language interpretation or assistive listening devices, or providing cliff notes, or written transcripts of any audio or video content that will be shared during the presentation. By asking the audience in advance what their needs are, you can ensure that the necessary accommodations are in place, and that your hard of hearing audience members enjoy the same opportunities to participate as other attendees. Furthermore, by asking what accommodations your audience members might need, you’ll ensure that you have the necessary resources and support in place to make your event and presentation as accessible as possible.

02. Use visual aids: Slides, videos and other visual aids help supplement your verbal explanations, and make your presentation that much more accessible for audience members who are hard of hearing. Visual aids also provide additional context and help clarify key points, which can be especially helpful for those who might be missing out on some of the verbal content of your presentation. For example, you may choose to use captions or provide transcripts of any audio or video content to ensure that your message is conveyed in a more accessible way. Visual aids can also be especially relevant to provide additional context and clarification that might otherwise be missed, especially when part of your audience is only able to rely on the verbal delivery of the presentation. Visual aids can also help break up the presentation and provide a change of pace, which can be helpful for all members of the audience.

03. Use a microphone: I can’t stress this one enough. Using a microphone helps amplify your voice and makes it easier for audience members who are hard of hearing to properly hear you. This is especially important if you’re presenting in a large room, or if there’s background noise that could interfere with your voice. When using a microphone, it’s important to position the microphone correctly in order to get the best sound quality possible. For a handheld microphone, hold it about six inches from your mouth and speak directly into it. For a lapel microphone, make sure it is close enough to your mouth and positioned in a way that it won’t pick up unnecessary background noise or interference, and that it won’t scratch against your clothes or facial hair. Avoid covering the microphone with your hand or turning your head away from it while speaking. Needless to say, you should also test the microphone before your presentation to ensure that it’s working properly and that the sound quality is good!

04. Speak clearly and at a moderate pace: Enunciating clearly and speaking at a moderate pace certainly helps ensure that the words that are coming out of your mouth are understood by audience members who have hearing challenges. Remember to breathe, and slow down. This is not a race. Make sure to clearly articulate every word, and enunciate each syllable for maximum clarity. Avoid mumbling or speaking too quickly, as this makes it more difficult for those who are hard of hearing to properly understand you. Enunciating properly will also make the job of interpreters easier, as they won’t have to guess what it is you might be saying. Keep in mind that nonverbal cues like facial expressions and body language also convey your message and add emphasis to your words. Use these cues to help engage your audience better, and make your presentation more dynamic. Don’t hesitate to vary your tone and pitch to keep everyone engaged, and add more interest to your presentation. You should avoid speaking in a monotone voice, speak dynamically, and at a moderate pace. By making use of appropriate facial expressions, body language, and vocal inflections, you will ensure that your message is understood by all, including those who are hard of hearing.

05. Provide written materials: Handouts and transcripts of your presentations will help those who are hard of hearing more easily follow along, and refer back to key points along the way. This is a great way to ensure inclusion! Choose an appropriate font size, so your written materials is large enough for everyone to read with ease. A font size of at least 16 points will generally be recommended. Avoid the use of overly complex formatting or design that may be difficult for audience members to read will also go a long way in better supporting their experience. Instead, rely on simple, clean formatting that’s easy to follow. Make sure printed copies are made available in advance, to give your audience members time to review them before your presentation takes place, so they can come prepared with questions or comments. By providing written materials ahead of time, you can help ensure that all members of your audience, including those who are hard of hearing, are better prepared and can fully engage with your presentation.

Considering the needs and preferences of the audience

In conclusion, there are quite a few things you can do to help your audience members who are hard of hearing better engage in your events and presentations. By using a microphone, by speaking clearly and at a moderate pace, by supporting your presentation with relevant visual aids, and providing written materials ahead of time, you can make a big difference in shaping what their experience will look like. This ensures that your message will be better understood and accessible to all members of your audience, including those who are hard of hearing.

Effective, inclusive communication is crucial for a successful presentation, and by following these simple tips, you can ensure that your presentation will be inclusive and engaging for everyone. Keep in mind that not all audience members may have the same set of abilities, or level of knowledge or understanding of the subject matter, so considering the needs and abilities of your audience when presenting is always a must!

Additionally, whenever you get a chance, always test the audio and visual equipment before your presentation to ensure that everything is working properly. It’s so much easier to just roll with it when something goes wrong with the technology, so if this means foregoing the microphone at the last minute for example, then inevitably, some of your audience will be left out. Always be on the safe side. Test ahead of time.

Always double-check that your microphone is positioned correctly, and that the volume is set at a comfortable level for all members of your audience. By taking such steps, you create an environment that lends itself to a more enjoyable and inclusive presentation experience for all members of your audience, including those who are hard of hearing.