1. Always ask deaf or hearing-impaired persons how they would like to communicate. The deaf or hearing-impaired person’s skills may depend on the following:
Whether he or she was born deaf or became deaf later in life;
What teaching method was used in his or her education; and
Which communication method he or she prefers.
If the person likes written communication best, keep your messages short and simple. Let the person know the topic, do not assume anything, and keep your sentences short and to the point. Look directly at the deaf or hearing-impaired person after you write your message. If you and the other person can see each other’s facial expressions, communication will be easier and more accurate.
2. Get the deaf or hearing-impaired person’s attention before speaking. Call out his or her name. If that doesn’t work, tap the person on the shoulder, wave, smile, or do something else that the person can see.
3. Speak slowly and clearly, but do not yell or over pronounce any words. Doing that affects how your lips move, making it harder for the deaf person to read your lips. Try to speak each word clearly. Short sentences are easier to understand than long ones. Look directly at the deaf or hearing-impaired person when speaking. Do not turn away to look for a form or for any other reason.
4. Do not place anything, such as a pencil or food, in your mouth when speaking. If you have a mustache, be aware that it may hide the lips. Putting your hands in front of your face can make it hard for deaf or hearing-impaired persons to follow what you are saying.
5. Maintain eye contact with the deaf or hearing-impaired person. Eye contact gives the feeling of direct communication. Even if an interpreter is present, continue to speak directly to the person. He or she will turn to the interpreter as needed.
6. Address your words to the deaf or hearing-impaired person, not the interpreter. Use the words 'I' and 'you' when talking through an interpreter. Do not say, “Tell him...” or “Does she understand?”
7. Avoid standing or sitting in front of a light source, such as a window or bright lamp. The glare and shadows created on the face make it almost impossible for the deaf or hearing-impaired person to read your lips.
8. If you have problems being understood, repeat what you said. If that doesn’t work, then say it differently. Do not say the same words over and over. If the person only missed one or two words the first time, repeating them once usually helps. Use pencil and paper if necessary, as some combinations of lip movements can be hard for the person to read. Getting the message across is more important than how you get it across.
9. Use your hands, move your body, and change the look on your face. A lively speaker always is more interesting to watch than a boring one.
10. Be polite to the deaf or hearing-impaired person. If the telephone rings or someone knocks at the door, excuse yourself and tell the person that you are answering the phone or going to see who is at the door. Do not ignore the deaf or hearing-impaired person and talk to someone else while he or she waits.
11. Use open-ended questions that must be answered by more than “yes” or “no.” Do not assume that deaf or hearing-impaired persons understand your message just because they nod their heads. It takes an actual response to an open-ended question to make sure that the person knows you are communication with him or her.
1. Meet with the interpreter before the interview to explain difficult or confusing words, technical terms, acronyms, seating arrangements, lighting and anything else that may affect your communication with the deaf or hearing-impaired person. Give the interpreter written materials ahead of time.
2. Reserve seats for persons who are deaf or hearing-impaired. The seats should let them easily see the speaker and interpreter so that they can pick up on visual cues and expressions. If they want to sit in different places, let them.
3. In small group discussions, consider sitting people in a circle or half circle.
4. Use lighting that lets the interpreter be seen.
5. Talk directly to the deaf or hearing-impaired person. Maintain eye contact with him or her. Instead of directing comments to the interpreter (for example, "Tell him..." or "Ask her...") talk directly to the deaf or hearing-impaired person.
6. Speak naturally and at your normal pace. Interpreters will ask you to slow down or repeat something if they need you to. Interpreters listen for concepts and ideas, not just words.
7. Avoid private conversations because the interpreter will interpret whatever he or she hears. Do not ask the interpreter to leave out any portion of the conversation. Ask the deaf or hearing-impaired person directly if he or she understands the conversation.
8. In group settings, ask everyone to follow the rule of one person speaking at a time. An interpreter can handle only one speaker at a time. If you are leading a group discussion, such as in a CAO job workshop, be aware that the interpreter will be several seconds behind. Pause before moving on to the next speaker to allow the interpreter to finish with the current one.
9. Avoid asking the interpreter for opinions or comments about what he or she has interpreted. Interpreters follow strict rules that require them to be fair and to keep all information to themselves. Do not assume the interpreter knows this deaf or hearing-impaired person or will be interpreting at future meetings.
10. Provide a short break every hour. Interpreting is tiring on the mind and body. Do not expect the interpreter to interpret during these breaks.
Reviewed July 30, 2013