Tips on communicating with students who lipread

Background Information

Classroom Setting

Discussions

Background information

The largest proportion of students with a hearing loss attending college will be lipreading in conjunction with any residual hearing they have.  However the most common hearing loss is in the high frequency range involving the consonants.  This means that they only hear parts of words and mostly it seems to be muffled (this is especially true of older people).

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Classroom Setting

• Stand or sit facing the deaf or hard of hearing person - the optimum distance for lipreading is generally 2 metres - and if possible at the same level as them so your face is clear to them, ensuring there is adequate lighting.

• Make sure the deaf person is looking at you before you speak.  To attract his/her attention, wave or lightly tap the person on the shoulder.

• Make sure your face is in the light - don't stand with your back to a window so that your face is in shadow.  It helps also if you avoid standing in front of brightly patterned wallpaper or posters. They can be distracting.

• Try to ensure that there is not a lot of background noise.  People with hearing aids have to filter out other noises and 'tune in' to your voice/lip patterns.

• Remember a deaf or hard of hearing students has to lipread you so think of your position. Lip-reading is not possible if youwalk around the room or continue to talk to them while your back is facing them, e.g. when writing on a blackboard/whiteboard.

• Think about barriers to communicating effectively. Don't cover your mouth while speaking or sit with your chin on your hands. Keep your head still. If you wear a beard or large moustache, be aware that your lips will not be very visible.

• Use gestures and appropriate facial expressions when relevant but don't exaggerate these.

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Discussions

• If you are talking to both deaf and hearing people in a group, remember to consider that a deaf or hard of hearing person may not follow the discussion as quickly as the others.

• Make sure the deaf person knows when you change the subject.

• Speak normally, maintaining a regular flow, without exaggerating your lip patterns.  If you tend to speak fast, try and slow down slightly.  Don't shout.

• As only 25-30% of spoken information can be read on the lips, the rest of the comprehension relies on the facial gestures and body language of the speaker. to put things in context.  It’s really helpful if the student can be given any handouts/copies of overheads before the lecture/presentation.  

• Be aware that in a OHP/DP presentation or slide show, the lights are likely to be dimmed which makes it much harder for the person to follow the speaker.

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