and how to approach and use it effectively . The question is this , how can we communicate effectively with people from different cultures while respecting their communication etiquette ? From experience and research , it appears to me that the best way to display proper etiquette is to be patient and allow other persons time to process information . This is especially true when communicating with the Deaf , Hard of Hearing , and Deaf Blind People .
With that in mind , it is important to be mindful of the time it may take to communicate effectively . For example , a simple question that takes a hearing person a few seconds to express and comprehend , may take a Deaf person several minutes to receive , understand and respond to the statement or question . Why ? Before they can respond several things must occur :
1 . The receiver must wait for the speaker to complete their statement .
2 . If they are lipreading without the assistance of an interpreter , they have to make sure they understand what was said .
• Did the speaker say , “ fifteen or fifty ” or did they say , “ six or sex ”?
• Take a second to look at yourself in the mirror and say those words ( six and sex ). If you really want to challenge yourself , try this : fore , for and four . Without sound , six and sex look very similar with mouth / lip formation .
3 . If the hearer is relying on an interpreter , once the statement is made , or question asked , the interpreter digests the information and then relays it to the Deaf person .
• The receiver must wait to hear the whole sentence before they can reply .
• Once all of the information is received , the Deaf person can then reply to the statement or question .
Deaf community : Don ’ t assume that all Deaf people use sign language or lipreading :
• Be respectful and treat them as equals with proper accommodation , if needed .
• Face them directly and maintain eye contact .
• Speak clearly and at a normal pace and avoid shouting or relying on the interpreter . Use visual aids or gestures if needed .
• To respect their communication preferences , ask if they need an interpreter or if they prefer written notes / papers , etc .
• When in a group , make sure everyone is included in the conversation .
Hard of Hearing community : Don ’ t assume that all Hard of Hearing people have the same hearing and speech abilities .
• Speak clearly and face the person directly , not the interpreter .
• Reduce background noise or move to a quieter location .
• Don ’ t shout or overemphasize words because it can distort speech and lipreading ability .
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• Avoid covering your mouth or speaking while chewing .
• Use visual aids such as gestures or written notes if necessary .
Deafblind community : Don ’ t assume that all DeafBlind people have the same hearing and vision loss . There are different degrees of hearing and vision loss :
• Use a gentle touch to get their attention , but never startle them . Always identify yourself when you
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