DOs and DON'Ts for Communicating with Deaf People

"DO:
• get the Deaf person’s attention first (touch them on the shoulder, flash the lights or stamp on the floor) – if they’re not looking at you then they’re not “listening” to you.
• ask how they would prefer to communicate (lip-reading, body movements, gesturing, signing, with an interpreter, writing etc)
• position yourself slightly further away than normal speaking distance so all gestures can be seen in the visual field (Note: if the person is hearing impaired rather than Deaf, position yourself at a normal speaking distance).
• maintain eye contact
• be at the same eye level if possible
• use visual cues
• use simple language and gestures
• speak clearly, normally and at a normal rate (for the benefit of Hearing Impaired people you can speak slightly louder than normal)
• check you’ve been understood
• try rephrasing or communicating in a different way if not understood
• reduce background noise (Hearing Impaired only)
• have good lighting without light shining into their eyes

DON’T:
• assume
• be patronizing (remember our attitude can be their greatest challenge)
• chew, eat or cover your mouth or face while talking
• shout or exaggerate lip movements
• repeat the same thing over and over again
• speak directly into their ear
• hide your eyes with sunglasses"

Insights into Auslan. (2010). Retrieved from http://deafsocietynsw.org.au/documents/SignLanguage1Handouts.pdf.