Lipreading
Quite a lot of deaf people and those hard of hearing are very good lip readers and it is an easy and reliable method of communication. When speaking to lip reader there are some dos and don'ts to make things easier
Things that can also make it difficult (but can't really be changed!)
What can I do if i am not understood?
What can I do if I don't understand the deaf person?
- Get the deaf person's attention - a tap on the arm or a wave
- Use clear speech movements. Try to enunciate
- Do not talk at fast speeds
- Switch off the TV and radio
- Try to have a smooth delivery, not jerky movements
- Try not to wear distracting clothes or jewellery
- Do make eye contact
- Do use emphasis and stress to help get your point across
- Be close enough to lip read
- Do not shout
- Do not cover your mouth
- Do not turn away when you are talking
- Try not to use distracting movements
- Try not to stand with you back to the light
- Do not say "it doesn't matter" if not understood
- If using medical terms, go slowly as these may be new and unfamiliar words
Things that can also make it difficult (but can't really be changed!)
- If the speaker has a strong accent or difficult speech
- If the speaker has a beard or moustache
What can I do if i am not understood?
- Repeat
- Rephrase
- Use facial expression
- Use gesture
- Write in plain English
What can I do if I don't understand the deaf person?
- Let the deaf person know you don't unedrstand
- Ask them to repeat/rephrase
- Ask them to write down or indicate what they want
- Use fingerspelling -- link
- Don't pretend you have understood when you haven't