Deaf Awareness Week 2024 (6th-12th May).

There are at least 12 million adults in the UK who are deaf or have hearing loss. At Sarabec, we hope to encourage others to be more deaf-aware so we can support those with hearing difficulties and communication issues. We aim to support the daily lives of deaf people or those affected by hearing loss both during their work life and in their everyday lives.

When speaking to someone who is deaf or has hearing loss, we have some tips you can use to help people better understand what you’re trying to say.

8 Top Tips for Communicating with Deaf or Hard of Hearing People

Face the person you’re speaking to

Try looking at the person you are talking to - sometimes, the addition of lip reading makes it easier for those with hearing loss to understand you better. Try not to look away when speaking.

Speak clearly

Remember to speak clearly – avoid shouting, talking too fast or unnecessarily slow - it may distort your lip patterns, and confuse those who rely on lipreading. Remember don't cover your mouth when speaking because many people rely on lip reading if they have hearing loss or are d/Deaf. 

Repeat or re-phrase if required

Remember to repeat yourself or try saying it again in a different way if someone doesn’t understand you. Using plain and simple words can help clear any misunderstanding.

Use simple hand gestures

Using hand gestures might make it easier to convey what you are trying to say. Simple movements like pointing or waving to get someone’s attention could help

Avoid noisy areas

For someone with communication issues, background noise can be a problem as it makes it more difficult to hear others. Consider moving to a quieter area if possible to cancel out some of that noise.

Write it down

Sometimes, the person with communication needs might prefer to see the text written down if they are struggling to hear/lip read. You can make it easier for them by using a pen and paper, writing the text on your phone or computer, or hand-writing words on a whiteboard to explain what you want to say.

Consider using an interpreter

Consider the needs of the person who has communication needs, whether that requires you to book an interpreter or have a friend/relative present.

Be patient

You may need to repeat yourself a few times if the other person is struggling to hear and understand you. Remember that the key is to be patient and keep trying. Work together to come to a clear understanding of your message.