Communicating with deaf people is simple, really. here are 13 tips!

How often do you meet the person you are listening to who is deaf? What if one day you meet a deaf person and have to communicate? Don't get confused, there are several ways to communicate with Deaf people if you don't know sign language. Come on, take a look at the reviews below so that you can become a person who is disability-friendly.

It is better to call it Deaf, not deaf

Maybe you are wondering why it says Deaf here, not deaf. Aren't deaf more polite? Wait a minute.

Deaf is often used to describe people with levels of hearing loss ranging from mild to more severe, including people who are deaf and people who are hard of hearing (hard of hearing).

According to the University of Washington, many Deaf people prefer to be called “Deaf” because they perceive this as more positive than the term deaf which is deficit or that something is wrong or damaged that leaves them with flaws and should be corrected if possible.

According to The State of Queensland Government, the term Deaf is a cultural identity, where one of the cultures is the way they communicate, which is different from what people hear. The mention of deaf using a capital T letter indicates a person's identity, as well as a name.

In the results of his coverage on the Liputan6.com page with deaf people in Indonesia, Adhi Kusuma Bharotoes at the United States cultural center @america, Adhi said that the word deaf is a medical term that appears to be related to physical damage. The word deaf makes Deaf friends like they are separated from normal people's lives. Therefore, Adhi encouraged the use of the word Deaf to be used more frequently.

Then how do you communicate with deaf people?

1. Lock their attention

To get the attention of the person you're talking to who is deaf, call with a wave of the hand or by lightly touching their arm or shoulder. Don't be too aggressive.

2. Face to face with each other

Deaf people need to see the face of the other person clearly in order to get an explanation from facial expressions and reading lips. Maintain the same level as the other person. For example, sit down if the person is sitting or stand if they are standing, and use eye contact.

Avoid doing other things when communicating such as chewing on a pencil, wearing a mask, biting your lip, or covering your face or mouth with your hands.

3. Adjust your distance from the other person

Consider the distance between the person you are talking to who is Deaf and yourself. This will affect the hearing and lip reading process. Don't go too far, don't get too close. Standing within a meter or so of that person is ideal.

4. Optimize lighting

Good lighting helps the person who is deaf to read lips and see your expressions clearly. Avoid effects backlight or silhouettes, for example by not speaking against a large window during the day. Make sure the place where you talk to the Deaf is well-lit.

5. Provide context and key words

In order to communicate fluently with Deaf people, tell the other person what you are going to talk about before starting the conversation. This is so that the other person is more imagined and easier to follow the direction of the conversation.

6. Use normal lip movements

You don't need to exaggerate every word, and don't mumble or speak too quickly. This will make it difficult to read lips. Remember, lip reading is basically a very difficult skill to master and the proficiency varies from person to person.

According to The State of Queensland Government (Queensland Health), the understanding of reading lips in the remaining 30-40% is guesswork. The ability to read lips depends on how well the other person understands the vocabulary and sentence structure you provide.

Not all Deaf people also have the same lip-reading skills, if the person seems to have difficulty understanding, try to repeat your message in a different way or sentence rather than repeating the exact same.

7. Speak volume

Speak at normal volume. Don't shout, especially if the other person is using ABD (hearing aid). Your shouting makes the person you are talking to who is deaf feel sick or uncomfortable.

This is the same as lighting that is too bright right in front of your eyes, will make your eyes hurt and uncomfortable, right? That is what the deaf ear of your interlocutor will feel. In addition, shouting when communicating with a Deaf person also makes you appear aggressive and impolite.

8. Use gestures and expressions

If you don't know sign language, use simple gestures or body language. For example, if you want to convey the word "eat", demonstrate how people eat in general. Next, use an expression when explaining your point. Show it with your face if something is hurtful, scary, or when things are okay.

Don't be shy about using expressions when communicating. Remember, speakers whose delivery is live are always more interesting to look at.

9. Don't talk in droves

If you and your friends meet with Deaf people, it is enough to talk from only one person or take turns. If everyone is talking at the same time, this will only make the other person more confused and unable to focus on looking at one face.

10. Be polite

If a phone rings, or a knock on the door, don't just leave the other person. Say excuse me and let you know if you will answer the phone first or open the door. Don't ignore it suddenly and make the other person wait without being explained.

11. When there is an interpreter, keep speaking and making eye contact with the person you are speaking to

If you meet a Deaf person who brings an interpreter, keep talking directly to the Deaf person, not the interpreter. In addition, use the words “I” and “you” or “you” when communicating through an interpreter instead of saying, “Please tell him,” or, “Does he understand or not?” to the interpreter.

12. Repeat and write down key points

If possible, have a piece of paper, write down key messages to help communicate with people. Write about the date, time, medication dose, etc. which are the important points of your conversation.

13. Make sure the other person you are talking to understands

Ask for feedback to prevent misunderstandings when communicating with Deaf people. You can immediately ask whether your words were clear or not, just like when you talk to someone who hears it.