Deaf Awareness

1. Deaf Awareness

2.        Terminology     

3. Deaf hard of hearing deafened Deafblind • Sign Language • more body language and gestures • mime • more facial expressions • visual aids – diagrams, pictures, drawing, pointing • simple English (unless Bilingual) – spoken (for lipreading) or written • English language (if English!) • use of technical aids • lipreading • natural facial expressions/ gestures • writing things down • English language (if English!) • writing things down • natural facial expressions/ gestures • (may / may not use lipreading) • Hands-on BSL • Manual alphabet • Block letters on hand

4. Communication breakdown? • Repeat • Rephrase • Use facial expressions • Use body language / gesture / mime • Write it down

5. Principles of communication with deaf people DO: • Get their attention before you speak • Stand still – do not talk whilst walking around the room • Have the light on your face • Keep the sentences short and to the point • Keep your hand away from your face • Slow down a little • Try and indicate the topic/subject you are talking about • Try to be patient – you can write things down as a last resort • Make sure background noise is kept to a minimum • Use appropriate facial expressions

6. DON’T: • Hold papers / books up and cover your lips, chew, or smile too much • Get too close – lip-readers like to see all your face • Shout – this will distort the shape of your mouth • Stereotype – not all deaf people communicate in the same way • Presume the deaf person can lip-read or sign • Patronise or pretend you have understood • Give up! If in a group… • Remember a deaf person can only look at one person at a time • Wait until each person has finished speaking • In a meeting – it helps if the chair/tutor calls the name of the person wishing to speak

7. Deaf Awareness