Deaf people have two main ways of communicating with others — lip reading and sign language. Learn more about these two forms of communication below.
Deaf people may not be able to hear what you're saying, but that doesn't mean they can't understand you. Especially if they use lip reading as a way to interpret conversations. This is a technique to understand speech by visually interpreting the movements of the lips and tongue, using facial expression and body language to help.
It is used by many deaf people who do not sign; especially those who were born hearing and have either gradually or suddenly lost their hearing during their life. It can be used with sign-supported English SSE.
This is because many words cannot be differentiated as they have the same lip pattern. For example:. Words that sound the same and have different meanings, but look the same on the lips e. There are many of these in the English language.
Knowing the topic of conversation first helps the lip reader here. Words that sound different and have different meanings, but look the same on the lips e. Try mouthing these words to yourself now and notice how you make the same lip pattern for each. Some people can lip read quite well and for others it is more difficult.
To be a good lip reader it takes practice, skill and patience. How Should I Communicate? Keep in mind that deaf and hard of hearing people who are part of the Deaf community may have certain cultural and etiquette differences that appear while communicating. Almost all deaf and hard of hearing people have heard these phrases, or variations of them, countless times while being excluded from information or conversations.
Make an effort to include everybody. Not all deaf and hard of hearing people prefer to communicate in the same way. Some might prefer to speak, some might prefer to sign, and some might prefer to write. Ask them how they want to proceed. They probably know exactly what they want from you. If you write or type with a deaf person, do not look down on their English skills. Remember that many deaf and hard of hearing people are deprived of language as children and that English is a second language for many Deaf people.
Want to learn American Sign Language? Check out our Resources page. Deaf and hard of hearing people process information visually, and it is much easier to communicate if you wait until they look at you before you begin.
Get their attention. That way they can see your mouth, facial expressions, and body language. Deaf and hard of hearing people are visual. Those who are a part of the Deaf Community, especially, are experts at reading body language. Miming is also okay if it helps to get a certain point across, but remember that mime is not the same as sign language. However, conversations often change subject without warning, especially in groups.
If the topic of conversation changes, pausing to acknowledge the change and state the new subject can be a big help. Many deaf and hard of hearing people are reluctant to say that they can lipread because of this myth. Lipreading is most often used as a supplement to the use of residual hearing, amplification, or other assistive listening technology. Because lipreading requires some guesswork, very few deaf or hard of hearing people rely on lipreading alone for exchanges of important information.
If you know that lipreading is happening, make sure that the other person can see your face, and follow these tips:. Lighting is an important factor in making sure the other person can see your face. If possible, try to communicate in bright spaces. Do not sit or stand directly in front of a bright window or light source, because it will create a shadow over your face that makes lipreading extremely difficult.
Speaking clearly and enunciating can help a deaf or hard of hearing person understand you. However, it does not mean shouting and speaking extremely slowly. Spoken conversations with more than three or four participants are difficult situations for deaf and hard of hearing people. The back and forth nature of a group conversation can be hard to follow and mentally exhausting. If you are planning a formal meeting, be proactive in planning for accessibility. Provide sign language interpreting or real-time captioning if that is what the deaf and hard of hearing person needs.
If your conversation is outside of the workplace and informal, be proactive in asking the participating deaf or hard of hearing people how you can make the situation accessible for them. You may want to do this in private so they feel comfortable being honest. Three easy tips to make any group conversation more accessible:. Even if you follow all of the above tips while speaking to a deaf or hard of hearing person, they might still misunderstand you at some point.
Just repeat yourself and continue the conversation. Resist the urge to give up when misunderstandings happen. In his spare time, he loves going out with friends, playing video games, and also has a huge affection for cats.
Sam grew up in Kansas, went east for college, then came back to Kansas and had a family. Eventually, his family ended up in the Pacific Northwest.
Sam is very happy to be among forests and mountains. He enjoys smelling the refreshing breeze and the rain coming off the Sound. Sam is excited to be part of Rosen Family Preschool. The kids of Rosen Preschool have already taught him a trick or two about creativity! He looks forward to seeing how each child grows. Through her graduate studies and work experience, Athina has gained valuable knowledge working with children and adults with a wide variety of speech and language impairments.
Athina was born and raised on the east coast but is excited to call the Pacific Northwest her current home. In her spare time, Athina enjoys traveling to new countries, hiking, and cycling. He brings a passion for collaboration and communication to his work.
In his spare time, Joel loves to run trails, swim lakes, road bike, and play music with friends. Joel appreciates all life has to offer, especially new challenges, the outdoors, and the simple pleasures of time with loved ones and great local food.
Despite appearances he can easily eat twice as much as you…seriously. She supervises program staff working in Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellingham. Jena was born and raised on a farm in Kentucky. After graduation, she worked in various fields for more than ten years, primarily in the nonprofit sector, with additional experience in education. Jena strongly believes in the power of self-advocacy and empowerment in her work.
During her spare time she enjoys hiking, reading books, and running her micro-business as an illustrator. She is profoundly deaf and has lived in Tacoma most of her life. In her spare time, she enjoys doing arts and crafts. Devin is a proud Washingtonian with a moderate to severe hearing reduction. After graduation, Devin spent years working with the homeless population in Seattle, advocating for and supporting their needs.
Devin has also been involved in the local Deaf and hard of hearing community by educating, advocating, and supporting others with hearing differences. Devin enjoys running, reading, doing yoga, exploring the outdoors, refereeing basketball, and showing off his wonderful smile. Gina has been a sign language interpreter for over twenty years. Write it down. A monthly dose of our adorable puppies! Behind-the-scenes stories and photos. News of upcoming events and ways you can help us create more hearing dogs.
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