DO –
- face the deaf person when you speak and speak directly to him/her
- use normal mouth movements and speak in a normal tone of voice
- remember to include the person who is deaf in everything–even minor details, especially when plans are changed
- write as much as possible. Many words look exactly the same on the mouth
- demonstrate how things are done
- demonstrate how things are done
- take turns speaking–one person at a time
- be aware that there is a time lag between the time a hearing person says something and the time when the person who is deaf gets the information from the Interpreter
- remember the Interpreter is supposed to be “invisible. He/She is there to only help with communication
- make sure the lighting in the room is appropriate
- talk to a person who is deaf in a room with little or no noise. Many people who are deaf have some hearing
- talk to a person who is deaf in a room free of visual distractions
DON’T –
- turn your face away while you are still speaking, or tell the Interpreter to “Tell him/her”
- use exaggerated mouth movements and do not YELL
- decide what the person who is deaf needs or does not need to know
- be impatient–the communication process will be slower with or without an Interpreter
- assume that the person who is deaf understands a particular process just because he/she if watching you DON’T let more than one person talk at a time and let the person who is deaf know who is speaking
- think the person who is deaf is not smart or the Interpreter is not skilled because of the time lag. It takes time to translate from one language to another
- try to include the Interpreter in the discussion. He/She is NOT part of the group
- talk loudly to others, or sing, bang the table, or make other distractingnoises when the person who is deaf is trying to watch the speaker
- talk in a room full of activity; it makes it difficult for the deaf person to concentrate on the speaker