Good communication tips

• Never talk with your back to the child. 
      
• Get close to the child when you communicate. The sound volume halves every time the distance from the sound source is doubled, so increasing the distance by just a few metres may prevent the message being understood.  
    
• Make eye contact with and look at your child when you wish to communicate with him or her. Your lips, facial expressions and body movements all contain important information.  
    
• When you communicate with the child in a room where others are present, always say the child's name.  
     
• Speak in a clear voice without shouting. If you speak too loudly, the sound of your voice may become distorted, making it difficult to understand. 
   
• Make sure that there is enough light when you talk to your child, so that the child can see your face clearly. 
   
• Go on playing, singing and talking with your child. For all children, human contact is essential for their emotional development and well-being. A child with impaired hearing may have an even greater need for close one-to-one contact to provide a basis for communication.