Reported use of communication strategies by SHHH members: client, talker, and situational variables

Two hundred and twelve members of the Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) organization completed a survey that evaluated their use of communication strategies. Reported use of strategies was correlated with attitudinal variables and social-interaction indices. On average, subjects agreed most strongly with questionnaire items stating they would ask a talker to repeat a misperceived utterance. They agreed less strongly with items stating they would ask the talker to restructure or elaborate an utterance. Subjects agreed strongly that they would use the communication strategies with familiar talkers, and less strongly that they would use them with unfamiliar talkers. Subjects who appeared less likely to say nothing after misperceiving an utterance were more likely to disagree that they were frustrated with their speechreading skills, and they appeared less likely to avoid social interactions. Subjects who indicated a greater likelihood of using anticipatory strategies, such as reviewing potential vocabulary before an appointment, were on average more likely to avoid social interactions. They also agreed more strongly that poor speechreaders appear less intelligent.