| seems to pass us by without much thought for how | | | | unintentional errors. |
| lucky we really are. Imagine what it would be like to | | | | Mostly these errors are the result of speed. For lip |
| wake up one morning and be confronted by absolute | | | | reading it may be a case of talking too fast so that the |
| silence. No ticking clock. No people talking. No dishes | | | | deaf person doesn’t have the capacity to |
| clanging. Nothing. That’s the reality that some | | | | catch all of the conversation. Alternatively it is not |
| people live. Now think about how you react to a | | | | unusual for people to talk too slowly, as though the |
| person once you find out they’re deaf. | | | | deaf person has a comprehension disorder rather than |
| People with hearing impairments don’t want to | | | | hearing. |
| be treated as though they are somehow less valuable | | | | In terms of sign language it can be just as frustrating |
| in the community. Is it normal to be a little nervous | | | | for the deaf person who is fluent in signing to try to |
| communicating with a deaf person for the first time? | | | | decipher an untrained persons attempts at sign |
| Sure. What’s important though is realizing that | | | | language. Novices who learn the signs but only use |
| while these people can’t hear, they definitely | | | | them occasionally never really learn how to |
| can communicate effectively with you if you give | | | | “speak” in sign language the way |
| them a chance. | | | | someone closely tied to deaf people can. |
| Any form of communication between people is a two | | | | The dilemma can be compared to visiting a foreign |
| way street. It is very important then to determine how | | | | country in which the inhabitants speak a different |
| a deaf person prefers to communicate. There are a | | | | language. You may have spent years studying that |
| number of options available to them such as sign | | | | language but when you find yourself thrust into a |
| language, lip reading or using text. There will be a way | | | | different culture you realize that you have learned the |
| of making a connection. It may sometimes be difficult | | | | rules and vocabulary of the language but you have not |
| or awkward but the effort is well worth it. | | | | learned how to speak it. |
| If you need to communicate regularly with a deaf | | | | Dealing with deaf people does not necessarily have to |
| person there is no doubt that significant effort is | | | | significantly alter the way that you get your message |
| required on your part to make the connection. It is | | | | across. Even with hearing people verbal |
| almost like needing to learn a second language. | | | | communication only makes up a small component of |
| Unfortunately for the majority of people it is not | | | | the way a message is delivered. You may need to |
| something that they encounter on a regular basis, so | | | | think a little more about the best way of making a |
| novices to sign language and lip reading can make | | | | connection but it can be done. |