Sounds Right can supply a wide variety of information documents relating to and associated to deaf awareness issues. Some examples of these information documents follow. Other topics we cover are DDA, Language and Terminology, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Useful Contacts, Tinnitus, hearing aids and much much more.
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First let's look at some terminology. Terminology is often confusing. The more accurate the description, the more complex the definition. Generally speaking, the term 'deaf people' refers to all groups of people with hearing loss.
The different groups are usually defined as :
PROFOUNDLY DEAF - Those who are born deaf or become profoundly deaf in childhood and whose preferred language is sign language.
DEAFENED - Those who become profoundly deaf as adults, who acquired spoken language in the usual way, and who identify mainly with hearing people. Their first language will be English.
HARD OF HEARING - Those who are hard of hearing - mainly older people (aged 60+). The overwhelming majority of deaf people are hard of hearing.
Many people may not recognise or may deny a hearing loss. They may be unwilling to recognise the fact that they are losing or have already lost their hearing and can believe that their hearing is ‘normal’ and that the problem lies with other people who are speaking too softly or not making themselves clear enough.
The following lists some pointers to look out for:
Turning up the TV or radio to a higher than normal level
Watching a speaker’s lips and face very carefully, or leaning forward towards the speaker
Complaining that other people mutter or mumble
Frequent requests for repetition of what is said
More guessing what is said and more misunderstandings
Tilting, or cupping one ear towards the speaker
No response when their back is turned
Difficulty in hearing the doorbell or the phone ringing
Having a particularly loud voice
Having a speech impairment - this can arise from a variety of reasons apart from hearing loss. However, signs of deterioration in speech clarity and monotonous speech may be an indication of reduced hearing levels
The person seems to hear on some occasions but not on others, appears unusually cut off or day dreamy
The person appears stunned by loud noises
The person begins to avoid social situations and group activities
Of course noticing that someone is wearing a hearing aid is always a good indication! Or, if someone is using sign language.
The acceptance of hearing loss is never easy, people often take a long time to accept that this is happening to them. This problem is compounded by the fact that hearing loss is invisible to others. Below are listed some of the reasons a person may be reluctant to accept that they have a hearing loss:
They may be afraid of losing their job
They may not wish to be thought of as stupid
They may think that hearing loss is always about getting old
They may feel reluctant or guilty at having to ask for help with communication
Catch the lipreader’s attention by touch, or waving if necessary
Make sure you have their attention and that they are looking at you before you begin to speak
If the person wears a hearing aid make sure you have minimised background noise, but remember that not all deaf, deafened or hard of hearing people wear hearing aids
Ideally be between 3 to 6 feet away from the person who is lipreading
ALWAYS look at the face of the lipreader - maintain eye contact as much as possible
Make sure that you are NOT standing with your back to the light - it is very difficult to lip-read in silhouette
Make sure that the light is on your face and do not obscure your face or mouth with hands, documents, cigarettes etc
Try to keep your head relatively still
Speak normally but slightly more slowly and distinctly
Use facial expression and gestures to support what you are saying
DON’T SHOUT - the lipreader may ask you to raise your voice, but shouting distorts the sound and the lip patterns - make sure you are not broadcasting confidential information when you raise your voice
Be patient
WHEN A LIPREADER CANNOT FOLLOW OR UNDERSTAND YOU
Repeat what you have said - BUT ONLY TWICE - if the lipreader is still having difficulty rephrase what you are trying to say
Give clues about the context of your conversation
DON’T change subject suddenly
NEVER say “Oh it doesn’t matter, its not important” - this dismisses the conversation and the lipreader
Don’t be afraid to write things down - confirm facts by letter or fax if necessary
Remember that lipreading is VERY tiring - even the best lipreaders can and do become easily tired
Human Aids to Communication (HACs) are highly trained and qualified professional people who facilitate a communication link process between Deaf, Deafened and Hard of Hearing people during activities in which they wish to fully participate.
HACs fall into the following 6 groups, though it should also be noted that a HAC can have skills and qualifications in more than one of the these areas:
• Sign Language
Interpreters
• Lipspeakers
• Note-takers (manual and electronic)
• Communication Support Workers
• Speech to Text Reporters
• Communicator-guides and Interpreters with Deafblind People
The main role of the Interpreter is to pass information from spoken English to British Sign Language (BSL) or Sign Supported English (SSE) and visa versa. They may also provide a voice over for the clients if the client needs and requests this.
The main role of the Lipspeaker is to convey a speaker's message to Lipreaders accurately using unvoiced speech. This requires the Lipspeaker to produce clearly the shapes of words, the flow, rhythm and phrasing of natural speech as used by the speaker.
Note-takers as the name implies provide hand written (long hand) or computer generated support notes for people with a range of hearing loss. They are often used by Lipreaders who’s first language is English, to supply written/printed support information and records of meetings, lessons, training sessions etc.
Mainly involved in the provision of communication support to deaf and deafened students in Further or Higher Education, though some CSWs also work in schools.
CSW duties could include note-taking in lectures and lessons, using sign language to support the communication process for students and pupils. Being a CSW requires training, not only in the skills necessary to communication with deaf and deafened people but also in professional issues, teaching and learning strategies.
A highly trained Speech-to-Text Reporter listens and records speech exactly on a special shorthand machine keyboard using a system know as PALYANTYPE or STENOGRAPH. Unlike a typewriter, several keys are pressed at once to form chords (like playing the piano). These chords are based on word sound rather than spelling and each chord may represent a syllable, word or complete phrase. The output of the shorthand machine is fed directly into a computer system and turns the chords back into English using a special dictionary created by the STT Reporter. The words are then displayed on a screen or screens for deaf, deafened or hard of hearing people to read. This transcription service usually presents a 95 percent level of accuracy.
Communicator-guides and Interpreters with Deafblind People are able to offer support with both mobility (guiding) and communication, according to the Deafblind persons preferred method eg. using the Deafblind manual alphabet or hands-on signing. They also provide access to information.
CACDP (Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People) is a registered charity that is raising standards of communication between deaf and hearing people.
Effective communication is essential for deaf people to gain access to ordinary day to day activities - a visit to the GP, a social chat with colleagues, a job interview, parents' evening at school. CACDP wants deaf people to be free to focus on the content not the communication.
CACDP's main aim is to promote communication between deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind and hearing people by offering high quality nationally recognised assessments and accreditation in British Sign Language (BSL) and other forms of communication used by deaf people.
To find out more about the CACDP, the web address is www.cacdp.demon.co.uk