How to Communicate With Deaf People If You Don’t Know Sign Language
When you are unsure of how to reach out to someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, you can make the process more difficult, or worse, eliminate it altogether. Here’s what you should do if you need to talk to a deaf person.
Get their attention politely.
If you hear the person, you can say their name or shout something like “Hey!” But that obviously won’t work with someone who can’t hear you. They need to see you.
According to the Deaf Communication Center (DHCC), you have several basic ways to get their attention that are not considered rude:
- Move into a person’s field of vision
- Pat the person lightly on the shoulder.
- Move the light at a slow / medium pace (doing this at a fast pace may indicate an emergency)
If you can, always choose the first option. This way you can look them in the eye – eye contact is very important – and signal that you want to say something. Eye contact will also ensure that you grab their attention. Never wave your hand in front of their face! DHCC also suggests that you ask the person if there are other methods of gaining attention that they prefer, especially if you communicate with them regularly.
You also need to time the signals correctly. If they seem to be actively doing something, don’t interrupt (it’s rude anyway). And when you do start to speak, always ask if you are interrupting something – just in case. Remember that deaf people can be distracted by things like everyone else, so don’t assume that they are willing to look at you just because you told them to.
Let them take the lead
Once you get their attention, hand over the reins. As YouTube channel ASL Stew explains in the video above, not all deaf or hard of hearing people can lip-read, so it is very important that you let them decide how best to communicate with you. And they will be on top of it. Remember that this may be your first time talking to a deaf person, but they communicate with hearing people every single day.
If possible, be prepared for other ways of communicating. For example, if you have a deaf colleague, always have a pen and notebook handy. Put it on the table and take it with you when you go talk to them. Also, be aware of excessive background noise and try to remove it as much as possible, especially if they just have a hard time hearing.
Stay visible and speak normally
A deaf person can read lips. In such a case, it is important to stay visible so that they can see your lips moving as you speak. Kimberly Brown of The Limping Chicken invites you to sit in good light (no sun or bright light behind you), stand close enough so that they can see your lips (but not so close that you invade their space), and make sure they have their glasses or contacts c.
When you start talking, don’t talk too much, don’t exaggerate your lip movements, or mumble. Both make lip reading difficult! Speak somewhat slowly (especially if you are speaking quickly) and always face him when you speak and keep looking into his eyes. Keep hands, food, and drinks away from your mouth while talking, and never talk while chewing food or chewing gum. And don’t think that they understand everything you say just because they pay attention. Deaf people get distracted too! So be prepared to repeat what you have already said. However, this does not mean that you are silent about your words or shout loudly at them. Just repeat what you said the same way. Give them time to process what you are saying, and sometimes stop to check if they understand everything.
Regardless of how you end up communicating, be patient. This process can be difficult for both of you, so give it some time and don’t get angry. Brown says that you should never give up on frustration and get rid of it . It’s rude, disrespectful, and will definitely make them feel insignificant or left out.
Use simple gestures and body language
As you speak, a few visual cues can help you get your point across.ASL Stew says it’s a lot like playing charades, so you should be prepared to act out things a little.
However, Brown recommends staying relatively still while talking whenever possible, otherwise lip reading can be much more difficult. Always stand face to face, maintain eye contact, and keep your mouth in sight . They can also be distracted by your actions if you act like an eccentric, so don’t overdo your work.
Learn the basics for next time
You may not interact with people with hearing impairments on a daily basis, but knowing some of the basic signs of American Sign Language can be beneficial to you. In this video, YouTuber Ashley Clarke Frye showcases 25 essential ASL signs that anyone can learn. Phrases such as “Hello”, “Yes”, “No” and “Are you deaf?” good to know.
Bonus: don’t ask them these pesky questions.
When interacting with a deaf or hard of hearing person, keep personal questions to a minimum. That’s doubly if you think about asking any of the questions in the abovevideo from WatchCut Video . Keep it stylish, folks.