Deaf Etiquette

How do I respectfully interact with people who are Deaf or hard of hearing?

Here are a few tips for respectfully interacting with people who are deaf or hard of hearing:

• There are five main methods of communication used by Deaf or people who are hard of hearing – hearing aids, lip reading, finger spelling, Sign Language, handwriting (or a combination of any of these).
• People who are Deaf rely mainly on Sign Language as a principal means of communication. It is important to remember that for many Deaf people, Sign Language is their first language (with English being their second) and is therefore the preferred method of communication for them.
• People who are Hard of Hearing have functional speech and typically use a combination of speech reading (lip reading) and use of residual hearing.
• To get a person's attention, call their name. If there is no response, lightly touch them on the arm or shoulder, wave your hand or flicker the lights.
• If you do not know a person’s preferred communication method, just ask them which method they prefer to use.
• Always speak directly to the person, never to a third party.
• Speak in a natural, conversational tone. It is not necessary to speak loudly or to over-enunciate.
• If you do not understand what is being said, do not pretend to understand – just ask the person to repeat him/herself. If this does not work, try using written notes (always have a pen and paper available). Never say, ‘Oh, forget it, it is not important’.
• Make direct eye contact. Natural facial expressions and gestures will provide important information to your conversation.
• When talking, do not allow your face and mouth to be obscured. Avoid holding things near your mouth, eating, smoking or waving your hands in front of your face - these things can be distracting.
• Bright and dark places can be a barrier to clear communication. Good lighting is important, but keep in mind the glare factor and do not stand in front of a bright window.
• Ensure that background noise is kept to a minimum.
• If a person is lip reading, speak clearly and slowly but do not exaggerate your speech.
• If a word or phrase is not understood, rephrase by using different words with the same meaning.
• Changing the topic of conversation abruptly can cause confusion. Use transitional phrases between topics, such as ‘let’s talk about exams now’.

Sign Language Interpreters

• If a person uses an Interpreter, address your comments and questions to the individual with the disability, not the Interpreter. In other words, talk directly to the person (‘What would you like?’), rather than to the Interpreter (‘Ask her what she'd like.’).
• Always speak in a natural, conversational tone. The Interpreter will tell you if something needs to be repeated or if you need to slow down.
• Normally the Interpreter sits opposite the person who is Deaf. Depending on the situation however, the person will be able to advise on the best arrangement for effective communication.
• Interpreting is physically and mentally demanding, so plan for frequent breaks.
• It is useful to provide any written material to the Interpreter in advance of a meeting so that they can familiarise themselves with details about the meeting.
• When in doubt, always ask the person with the disability! The person with a disability is your best source of information.

What does “Sign Language” mean?

Sign language is a language that uses a system of manual, facial, and other body movements as the means of communication, especially among Deaf people.

It is important to remember that culturally, people who are Deaf are members of a distinct linguistic and cultural minority. The members of this cultural group use Sign Language as their first language. Therefore, members of this cultural group are bi-lingual and English is their second language.



Where can I learn how to Sign?

The are a number of on-line sites with details of Sign Language courses, as well as examples of how to sign numbers and commonly used words.

Irish Deaf Society
http://www.irishdeafsociety.ie/home/images/ABC.pdf∞


Sign Language – Leaving Certificate Applied
http://lca.slss.ie/downloads/Sign%20Language.pdf∞


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