If you meet someone for the first time and think they may be blind, you may want to ask.You might wonder how to respectfully communicate with someone you don't know.Asking what their preferred method of communication is is a good way to start a conversation.visual aids and writing can provide quick clarification when needed, but often a deafness person will be able to read your lips well enough for the two of you to enjoy a conversation comfortably.
Step 1: Before speaking, get their attention.
If someone can't hear you, make yourself visible to them.Speak with both your body and face facing in the same direction as you position yourself in their field of vision.A small wave or hand motion can get someone's attention.If you think someone won't be able to hear you, start a conversation.It may take a bit of effort to establish a way of communicating if someone is blind, but you will be able to do it together with ease.
Step 2: Introduce yourself.
If you meet someone for the first time, identify yourself.If you are meeting someone in a formal setting, you may want to give them a business card.If you have a name badge, you can present it.Try to be quiet.It can be difficult for someone with partial hearing to understand you.They may indicate a different type of communication when introducing you to someone who is blind.Immediately switch to this form of communication if they do.
Step 3: How do they prefer to communicate?
You will be able to tell if another person can hear you or not.If they seem to understand what you are saying, they probably can.A person who can't hear may still be able to understand most of what you're saying.Continue speaking until the conversation is going well, and then focus on speaking slowly and clearly.Say something along the lines of, how do you prefer to communicate?
Step 4: Don't ask if someone is deafness.
As you establish how best to communicate with someone, their ability to hear will likely come up in conversation or become apparent without talking about it.Don't start a conversation asking about someone's deafness if you use the word "d/Deaf" in two different ways.It's important that you don't assign labels to someone or assume they see themselves in a certain way.If you simply ask if they are able to hear or identify with a certain culture, they might not know.Phrases such as "hearing impaired" should never be used.Many people who are deafness don't see themselves as disabled or think there is anything wrong with them.
Step 5: Do not stand in front of bright things.
If the person you are speaking with is reading your lips, do not sit or stand in between them.This applies to artificial light sources.Shadows and glare on your face will make lip reading difficult.
Step 6: When speaking, look at the other person.
A well-lit view of your face can be obtained by maintaining a position relative to the other person.Wait to write on a whiteboard until you are done speaking, if you need to turn away.
Step 7: Don't shout or exaggerate your pronunciation.
Many people who are hard of hearing may find shouting or dramatic pronunciation offensive.It's possible that exaggerating your voice or overemphasizing certain sounds will make it harder to read your lips.Don't add emotion or emphasis to your words.
Step 8: You should speak in short sentences.
In the statements you are making, they will be more precise and concise.Since the substance of what you are trying to say is likely to be conveyed by nouns and verbs, focus on using these types of words.
Step 9: Your mouth should be visible.
You should not obscure your lips.Smoking, eating, or chewing while communicating with someone who is reading your lips is not allowed.You may obscure sight of your lips if you touch your face while speaking.
Step 10: Tell me what you want to talk about.
If you want to communicate with someone who may not be able to hear you, it's a good idea to indicate the reason.If you want to discuss a topic that is relevant to you, hold it up or simply touch it.
Step 11: Restate once, then do it again.
Say it again if it seems that something you said was not understood.rephrase what you are trying to say using different words if this does not convey your point again.It is possible that the way you are mouthing certain words looks similar to another word.Re-phrasing the same statement with different words will clarify something that may have been unclear.
Step 12: Make sure to maintain eye contact.
Even if you are having a hard time understanding each other, this is the best way to convey a feeling of direct communication.You may feel as though a person is looking at you.You should try to keep eye contact as well.Imagine if someone with full hearing covered their ears while you were talking to them.A person who relies on lip reading avoids eye contact.
Step 13: Be courteous.
There are certain things to be aware of when communicating with a person who is blind.Explain what you are doing when you hear something.Say what you are doing before you answer the door if the telephone rings.It is never a good idea to act as though a deafness isn't present.Don't speak only to another person while someone is present.Speak to the deafness person so they can read your lips and expressions.
Step 14: Use visual clarifications.
Refer to photos, drawings, or other visuals if they aid or strengthen your ability to communicate with one another.Body language and facial expression are used to emphasize certain points.You can emphasize what you are saying by moving alone.
Step 15: The focus should be on listening.
A person with deafness may or may not speak.Their verbal communication may be hard to understand if they do speak.If you don't understand something, act like you do.Ask the person you are talking to to repeat themselves.Strong communication requires patience to fully understand what another person is saying.Ask specific questions.If a question can be answered in a few words, ask it in such a way that it will allow for a nod or shake of the head.
Step 16: Write down what you want to say.
The medium is not the message in this scenario.If the person with whom you are communicating is unable to hear you or read your lips, you should break out some writing equipment.Ask if the other person is comfortable with writing.Do not assume that a person is able to write.You can use a writing utensil or a computer to make a statement.
Step 17: Write short and simple messages.
After establishing that the other person is comfortable writing out a conversation, state the subject area or ask them to do so.At the beginning of a conversation, this will help you get both on the same page.You can write a few words at a time.If you can allow the deafness person to see what you are writing about, they will probably understand.
Step 18: Give them a written message and then face them.
Try to maintain eye contact and use body language that indicates your focus is on the conversation.When you are not writing, sit or stand with your body facing the other person and watch their face.As much as you have written, you will read each other's facial expressions.Communication will be easier to understand, not to mention more accurate.
Step 19: Assist with nuanced conversations.
If your conversation progresses, the person you are speaking with may want to use software such as Computer-Aided Real-Time Transcription, which will allow them to read what you're saying.