About 11 million Americans consider themselves deaf or hard of hearing. Just like most people, they, too, need to maintain friendships and jobs to live normally. In this article, we explore how deaf people communicate throughout their day and how tools like alert devices and hearing aids make it easier for them to communicate.
How Do Deaf People Communicate Throughout Their Day?
The communication methods a deaf person uses daily can change based on the context. It can be a matter of trial and error to decide the best way to communicate with someone. Also, depending on the situation, various methods can be combined at the same time.
Lip Reading
Lip reading involves understanding the other person's words by watching their lips move. It can be the fastest way for a deaf person to understand what's being said as it doesn't require knowing sign language.
However, lip reading can present several problems. First, many words have the same speech patterns. Second, it may not be easy to see the other person's lips clearly under certain lights. Third, the deaf person may ask the other person to repeat what they said again and again.
So, even though lip reading is a quick way for deaf people to communicate, it doesn't always work smoothly.
Gestures
Gestures are a step up from lip reading, where both individuals use everyday hand movements and facial expressions to get their points across. For example, pointing to something that you want the other person to pay attention to.
However, gestures can get complicated when trying to have a whole conversation.
Sign Language
Sign language is more effective for having entire conversations. Still, both individuals must know the same sign language or at least have an interpreter relay what each other is saying. There are over 200 recorded sign languages, including some popular ones like American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL).
Writing
Writing on paper or texting is a common way for non-hearing individuals to communicate with other people. The only requirement is being able to read what has been written. However, writing can get tiring or a bit slow, especially when using pen and paper.
Technology
There are lots of technology that non-hearing individuals use to stay in touch. They include video chats, message apps, vibrational alerting systems, hearing aids, and cochlear implants.
What Are Some Communication Barriers for Deaf People?
Even though deaf people may communicate a lot of the time with others, they can still face barriers, including the following:
- A deaf person may resort to more tasking methods, like trying to read lips when the other person doesn't understand sign language.
- Deaf people may feel left out of situations or isolated, especially amid a group of hearing people.
- Fast methods like lip reading can become difficult if the environment is not optimal.
- Some hearing people may not be patient enough or make enough effort to understand the deaf person
How to Communicate With Deaf People? Tips and Best Practices
To optimize the environment and make it easier for a deaf person to understand you, here are some tips and best practices to keep in mind:
Get the attention of the deaf person first
Tap the person gently or wave at them to let them know you want to communicate with them. Just indicate gently and respectfully that you wish to speak with them so that you and the person can focus on each other.
Ask what their preferred method of communication is
Ask the deaf person whether they prefer gestures or lip reading. Some deaf people would prefer sign language, and some would like to write over gesturing, especially if it'll be a lengthy conversation.
Speak directly and normally
If you're using lip reading, speak directly to the deaf person in your normal voice. Don't raise your voice because that won't make them hear you better, and you may make them feel uncomfortable or left out. Also, if you're using sign language with an interpreter, speak to the deaf person directly, not the interpreter.
Optimize the environment as much as possible
Make sure your lips are visible so that it's easier to communicate. If video chatting, ensure you can be seen well on screen. You can also enable captions so that the deaf person can read what you're saying. Use common ones that can be easily understood.
Overall, do your best to make the conversation hitch-free.
What Tools Do Deaf People Use in Their Daily Lives?
There are tons of tools that can help deaf people get through a day easier, from vibration-enabled alert systems to cochlear implants.
Alert Systems
These typically use visual and vibrotactile (vibrations) signals to alert people who are hard of hearing. For instance, smoke detectors and doorbells can use flashing lights and extra loud noises to alert a deaf person. Alarms and phones use vibrations, too.
Voice-to-Text tools
Voice-to-Text or Speech-to-Text tools convert voices to texts in real time so that a deaf person can read what's been said. They're great because they let the hearing person speak normally while the deaf person has to read what's being said. Speech-to-Text software can be found in mobile phone applications today.
Video Chats
Deaf people can use live captions on video chats to understand the other person when they can't use sign language. However, the accuracy may fluctuate based on the software being used.
Hearing Aids
People who are deaf or hard of hearing can still be sensitive to background noise and high-pitched sounds. Hearing aids use microphones to pick up external sounds and transfer them to a receiver in the ear, which reduces background noise and amplifies speech.
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Cochlear Implants
Cochlear Implants deliver electric impulses instead of sounds to the auditory nerve. They're for people whose hearing aids can no longer help.
Cochlear implants are surgically placed under the skin behind the ear, bypassing damaged ear parts to send signals to the auditory nerve. People who get cochlear implants typically have to retrain their brains to recognize speech.
Do All Deaf People Communicate the Same Way?
No, all deaf people do not communicate the same way. Some prefer reading lips and gesturing, while some are also proficient in sign language and would prefer to use an interpreter.
Furthermore, methods of communication change based on the situation, even when it's the same deaf person.
That's why it's important to get a deaf person's preferred means of communication in a situation to minimize inconveniences.
How Do Deaf and Blind People Communicate?
Deaf and blind people communicate through various methods, such as lip reading, braille, finger spelling, and gesturing.
A deaf-blind person is more likely to use tactile sign language, which relies on touch. That's when you make signs on the skin of the other person, who, in turn, makes signs on your skin.
A deaf person and a blind person may communicate with each other if they use a tech device that converts the blind person's words to text, which a deaf person can read, and vice versa.
How Can a Deaf Person With No Hands Communicate?
A deaf person with no hands would probably read lips and text as the primary way to understand what people say. They may also communicate using facial expressions. However, the situation depends on each person. Remember to ask a deaf person's preferred method of communicating.
Conclusion
Deaf people use many communication methods and devices to remain in touch with friends and family while navigating the world. For deaf people who still have residual hearing or are sensitive to background noise, hearing aids can be effective devices for reducing noise and amplifying human speech to louder volumes.
Ceretone OTC hearing aids are designed to meet the unique needs of people with poor hearing, offering a perfect balance between comfort, discretion, and advanced technology. Whether you're at a family gathering, in a crowded café, or at work, you can engage in conversations without feeling self-conscious. With customizable settings, Ceretone empowers you to take control of your hearing experience. Invest in your hearing, and discover a world of clarity and connection with Ceretone hearing aids—because staying connected should be effortless.
FAQs
Deaf-blind people learn to communicate using touch signals like tactile sign language and finger-spelling. Tactile sign language involves touch, where the signs are made on the receiving person's palm or skin and vice versa.
Deaf people typically use a speech-to-text system to communicate over the phone. If it's a video phone, they can see the other person clearly enough to read sign language. If not, technology may support Speech-to-Text.
A blind person can communicate with a deaf person by making a sign on the blind person's palm. However, that would require both individuals to understand the same form of tactile sign language.
An alternative can be a device that converts the blind person's speech into words the deaf person can hear.
Some rude behaviors in deaf culture include disrespect when trying to get a deaf person's attention, breaking eye contact when speaking with a deaf person, assuming that they would prefer a particular communication method, and raising your voice when using lip reading.
Deaf people use sign language to communicate. Sign language works great when the people speaking with each other understand it. Deaf people can also use written language, depending on the context.
A deaf person may be able to talk normally if they go deaf later in life or if they have some residual hearing left. Someone born deaf is less likely to talk since they've never heard speech. Some deaf people train to speak normally, but that can be hard work.
Men are more likely to be deaf than women. But that's linked to job types and lifestyle, not genetics.
It's not rare to gradually go deaf because hearing loss typically occurs as someone gets older. 30% of people above 60 live with some degree of hearing loss.
