Do you want to be a speaker on hearing loss?
Yay!
Whether you dream of being on a national stage or connecting with people in your community, there are people who need to hear from you. But if you’re new to public speaking, especially about hearing loss, I suggest you “start small”.
At the start of my 30-year (so far) speaking career, I was nervous delivering what was basic information – this is how hearing works, this is what makes it not work, hearing aids are very helpful (ugly, but helpful), other people should be nice to us when we ask them to face us and speak up, etc.
But I quickly became better at speaking because:
- I knew my stuff. From my own experiences and through involvement in groups like HLAA and CHHA, I learned what goes into living well with hearing loss, .
- I developed my own style, illustrating talks with personal stories.
- I practiced. A lot.
- I love talking about hearing loss.
In this post-pandemic era, online webinars are ideal for people with hearing loss, because it’s easier to understand what’s being said. Onscreen, we can read lips, adjust the volume, use captions, and stream sound into our devices. We just grab a coffee, flip on the computer and we’re connected!
But what’s missing is the dynamic human connection of in-person, small group presentations that many people, especially older adults, prefer over online communication.
The hearing loss population is growing and if you’re interested in talking about hearing loss, be creative and explore opportunities. Giving a good presentation on hearing loss can be learned, practiced, improved, and ultimately successfully delivered. (There are a few hints in that sentence!)
Know your stuff! Having hearing loss doesn’t automatically make us confident, effective or even knowledgeable speakers on the subject. Sharing our valuable lived experience can create a connection with the audience, but we need topic expertise to answer questions and offer useable strategies. And don’t be afraid to let them know what you can’t answer. I let my audiences know that while I can’t explain the technical intricacies of technology – I’m not scientific – I know how to use it!
Make it understandable. Create a script and presentation visuals that are easily understood and explainable. Ask for feedback on your talk from someone you trust, then edit, revise, rehearse and deliver!
Arrive early. Because successful talks on hearing loss depend on effective technology and clear sightlines, checking out the space and setup allows time to fix any issues. When my coauthor/colleague Shari Eberts and I arrive at a conference, our absolute first task is checking out the presentation room, even if we’re not speaking until the next day. Familiarity with the speaking space boosts confidence.
Use good communication. Speak clearly. Engage with your audience. If eye contact is difficult for you at first, talk to the back wall or the tops of their heads; it looks surprisingly natural. When you can make eye contact, you audience connection is stronger. Using notes is fine (I use ‘em) but spend more time looking at your audience.
Nerves are normal for every speaker, regardless of experience. A tip: once you’re set up and people start arriving, greet and mingle a bit. Then when you start to speak, you’re talking to friends.
Make your talk accessible! (This is non-negotiable.)
- Captions are crucial! Built-in PowerPoint captions are easy enabled.
- Don’t put too much information on slides – use point form and graphics.
- Can the audience see and hear you clearly? Ask them.
- Allow time for questions, possibly the most important part of your talk.
The set-up and technical stuff! Discuss the presentation setup in advance with the organizer. What type of podium and amplification do they provide?
I prefer clip-on microphones because headsets sit awkwardly on my hearing devices. I learned that lesson! During a dramatic monologue in front of a large audience, the headset’s tiny microphone visiblly worked its way up towards my eye. I was rescued by the incomparable Juliette Sterkens who walked up onto the stage and silently secured the headset to my cheek with a bandaid!
With any wearable mike, the battery pack clips into a pocket or waistband, neither of which I had for another memorable event. My only choice was to place the battery pack inside my pants. I managed to finish my talk before it worked its way down and out onto the floor!
Make sure the audience can see you. In a talk to deaf and hard of hearing women, the hall had no stage or riser, making it difficult for people to see me or the sign language interpreter. Solution? We stoo, balanced precariously, on small orange crates for the entire talk.
Enjoy yourself. You’re doing this because you believe in the message, which people truly need to hear! Smile and the audience will smile back.
Potential audiences in your community:
- Places of worship
- Business Lunch & Learns
- Social groups
- Book clubs
- Senior centres
- Service clubs
- Professional associations
- Condo communities
- Hearing clinics
If you’ve got the desire to speak about hearing loss – schedule a talk, grab an orange crate, and get out there!
