Remember: a deaf person cannot hear you, and cannot hear themselves.
Deaf people often find themselves isolated among hearing people and frequently feel "rejected."
If you meet someone who is deaf, take a moment. Include them in the conversation by keeping them informed about what is happening and being said around them.
In particular, keep these simple guidelines in mind.
1) Many deaf people understand you by reading your lips.
- In a meeting, lecture, or classroom, make sure the deaf person has a good vantage point. A deaf or hard-of-hearing child should sit in the front rows.
- Speak clearly, without exaggerating or shouting. Speak more slowly.
2) A deaf person with a hearing aid is not the same as a hearing person.
- A hearing aid is not a cure. Learning to understand speech requires long and difficult training.
- A hearing aid gives the deaf person helpful "signals," but lip reading remains essential.
3) Following a conversation is always hard work for a deaf person.
- Briefly frame the subject to orient your listener—for example: "tomorrow," "your child," "vacation," "work," "sports."
- A deaf person struggles to follow group conversations without an interpreter. They tire easily.
4) Deaf people often have a limited vocabulary and may not recognize all expressions or understand every word.
- Use short, correct, and simple sentences, preferably in direct language.
- Avoid mumbling or dialect.
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Before you speak, gently get the person's attention.
Never speak from another room.
If you smoke, eat, walk around, or cover your mouth while speaking, your words will be hard to understand.
When someone is tired or ill, they have more difficulty understanding.
Make sure the light does not glare in the person's eyes. Don't stand with the light behind you.
If the person shows difficulty understanding, rephrase the sentence rather than repeat the same word over and over. Or write it down.
Reduce background noise when you speak: turn off the radio and television.
Position yourself at eye level with the person. Articulate clearly: speak at an even pace, without pausing after every word.
Speak at a normal volume, without shouting. Shouting distorts your face and makes you look aggressive.
Remember that your hands, face, and eyes can also "speak." Your listener will appreciate it if you use gestures to support your words—but not too many!