What should you not do when you meet a deaf person?
Try not to look away or cover your mouth as many deaf people rely on lip reading to help them understand you. Check noise and lighting. Turn off or move away from background noise. Make sure your face is not in shadow and there are no strong lights or sunshine in their eyes.
- Covering your mouth, turn around, look down or away while talking. ...
- Start talking without being aware of the surroundings. ...
- Keep repeating what you said using the same exact words. ...
- Shouting or exaggerating mouth patterns. ...
- Giving up.
2- Eye Contact in the Deaf Community If talking to a Deaf person, it is considered rude not to make eye contact. Deaf people do not hear with their ears, they hear with their eyes. Everything on your face is important to people in the Deaf community, including facial expressions.
Speak directly and clearly so they may read your lips. Most lip reading is guesswork. Don't yell or exaggerate mouthing or mock sign language or make obscene gestures which is offensive Don't label a deaf person: "Deaf Mute" "Deaf & Dumb" "Hearing Impaired" those terms are wrong.
- You don't look deaf? No, because what should a deaf person "look like"? ...
- You speak very well for a deaf person. Thank you… ...
- But you can't hear music? ...
- Never mind. ...
- You're deaf and dumb, right? ...
- Can you lipread me? ...
- I'm sorry you're deaf. ...
- I know a bit of sign language….
- Public announcements. ...
- Slow talkers. ...
- Being in the dark. ...
- Being “jumpy” ...
- Relying on touch. ...
- Sign language misunderstandings. ...
- Job applications and interviews. ...
- Going to a movie.
Deaf patients generally seek the health system less frequently than hearing patients, referring, as the main difficulties, they feel fear, mistrust and frustration4.
So, what are the major barriers that hinder deaf people from being fully included in the society? Lack of awareness. The first and fundamental one is lack of awareness. Sometimes being are just lacking knowledge, don't know how to act, or where to get a sign language interpreter.
In fact, people in deaf culture communicate in a variety of ways including sign language, lip-reading, and even by speaking aloud. A person who wants to speak with a deaf person should be respectful of the way he or she wants to communicate.
To get the person's attention, touch the person lightly, wave your hand or use some other physical sign. If an interpreter is being used, speak directly to the person who is deaf rather than to the interpreter.
Should you shout at a deaf person?
When you are talking to someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, who may have a hearing aid, remember it is not about volume so there is no need to raise your voice or shout. Continue to speak as you normally do but remember to speak clearly so they can also lipread you.
Talking without signing in front of Deaf people and looking at a signed conversation without letting them know you know American Sign Language are considered RUDE in Deaf community.
Using the term “hearing-impaired” is considered very negative. It focuses on what people can't do. It implies that people who can't hear are “impaired” or substandard or damaged. The term “deaf-mute” is also highly offensive.
Eye contact is extremely important. Hearing people often talk to each other with comparatively little eye contact, but within Deaf culture, avoiding eye contact can be seen as rude. Looking away while someone is signing to you is definitely a no-no.
Never say “I'll tell you later”, “never mind”, or “it doesn't matter” to a deaf or hard of hearing person. Almost all deaf and hard of hearing people have heard these phrases, or variations of them, countless times while being excluded from information or conversations. Make an effort to include everybody.
People who are deaf or hard of hearing are often excluded from their communities, denied equal access to basic services and face stigma and violence. Students who are deaf are uprooted from families and communities because their school doesn't offer instruction in sign language.
Don't grab or poke when you walk up behind a Deaf person. This action is commonly used as a warning that something is wrong or in an emergency. Never throw objects at a Deaf person to get his or her attention. Besides being just plain rude, it is also dangerous.
Unfortunately, when deaf and hard of hearing people look for work, they may encounter employment discrimination. Prospective employers can discriminate, either openly or subtly. This discrimination happens because of either overt prejudice, or because of ignorance about deafness and hearing loss.
Deafness is clearly defined as a disability under the ADA, as major life activities include hearing,10 9 and hearing impairments are clearly specified as a physical or mental disability." 0 While this resolves the issue for most individuals and entities, the Deaf Community takes a different view.