- Make sure you are in front of or fairly closed to (approx. 3 to 6 feet), and on the same level as the deaf person.
- Position yourself with your face to the light and avoid placing yourself in front of a bright window.
- Check that the background noise is kept to a minimum,
- Do not shout.
- Speak clearly. Maintain a normal rhythm of speech. Over emphasis of words distorts lip movements, making speech reading more difficult.
- Remember that sentences end phrases are easier to understand than isolated words.
- If a word / phrase is not understood, use different words with the same meaning - rephrase.
- If the topic is changed, make sure the deaf person knows.
- Keep head still and stop talking if you turn away.
- Keep hands, pens, cigarettes, etc away from your face while speaking. Other distracting factors affecting communication include moustaches obscuring the lips.
- Do not eat while speaking.
- Avoid exaggerating facial movements, grimacing or inappropriate facial expression.
- Gesture, pantomime and body language can be helpful.
- Make sure the deaf person is looking at you - attract attention
if necessary.
- Don't be embarrassed about communicating via paper and pencil. Getting the message across is more important than the medium used.
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