It Matters Communication Guide

In this downloadable guide you'll find some simple tips for communicating better with deaf people and people with hearing loss.

Three pages from the downloadable It Matters guide fanned out which show useful information and colourful illustrations

Being deaf or having hearing loss can be an isolating experience. Many deaf people can feel cut off from other people because of the communication barriers they face every day.

You can make life easier for deaf people and people with hearing loss, and make them feel more included and connected, by being aware of a few simple things you can do to aid communication.

To make things easier for deaf people and people with hearing loss, download your copy of our free communication guide today.

Here is a sample of what you will learn in the guide.

Don’t say “It doesn’t matter...”

If someone asks you to repeat yourself, either once or a number of times, don’t give up and say, “Oh it doesn’t matter”. This can make someone feel that what they are saying doesn’t matter, or that they don’t matter.

Illustrations of a speech bubble that says It Doesn't Matter inside and two people having a conversation

Speak at normal volume

Speak normally – don’t exaggerate, shout or speak much slower than you normally would, as this can distort the way 
your mouth moves and your facial expressions, which makes it harder for people to lipread.

By downloading this free guide, you will be directly helping deaf people. People like Lucy…

"Being deaf or having hearing loss can be a very isolating experience. It can be lonely. It can make you feel cut off from other people because of all the communication barriers you have to face on a daily basis. I know because I've been there.

"Just by being aware of how best to communicate with deaf people or people with hearing loss, you can genuinely make life so much easier for them and make them feel included and connected."

A woman is kneeling on grass beside a dog in a park-like setting. Out of focus trees can be seen in the background.

Sign up and get your free guide!

It is full of tips on how to recognise that someone may be deaf or have a hearing loss, and how you can make small adjustments to aid communication when talking to them.