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Communication Tips 

1. Look at the person
2. Face the light – do not position yourself in front of a bright window
3. Speak one-to-one if possible. Deaf people find it very difficult to follow conversation in groups
4. Keep background noise to a minimum
5. Check that the person is looking at you before you speak
6. Do not shout, as this will distort your voice and lip pattern – speak clearly with a normal rhythm.
7. Sentences and phrases are easier to lipread than single words.
8. Rephrase what you are saying if the person doesn’t seem to understand
9. Keep your head still, don’t turn your face away while you are speaking
10. Do not cover your mouth with your hands or anything you are holding
11. Avoid exaggerated or misleading facial expressions
12. Use gestures where these are relevant.
13. If you change the subject while you are speaking, make sure the deaf person knows
14. Check the person is following what you are saying – lipreading can be very tiring
15. Write things down if you need to clarify them