Disability awareness > Module
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Disability - understanding
the issues
Deafness and hard of hearing
Around 17% of the population in Ireland have some
form of hearing loss, ranging from mild to profound. Students who are
hard of hearing are more likely to wear hearing aids and may use spoken
language to communicate. Profoundly deaf people will not use spoken
language and are likely to communicate through Irish Sign Language.
People who are deaf are members of a linguistic minority whose
first language is Sign Language
Implications for education
- the inability to communicate with ease is the most notable of the functions,
which are significantly affected by hearing loss
- this has a considerable impact on all aspects of people's lives, including
education
- people who are deaf must function in an environment which is geared
to sound
- they are also required to communicate in a second language
- access to information, which is communicated through radio or sound
recordings, can be greatly restricted
- safety is an issue because standard alarm systems are inaccessible to
them
Communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing
The following points should be noted when communicating with a person who
is deaf or hard of hearing:
- Ask people what their needs are.
- Always face people when you are speaking to them, don't turn away or
cover your mouth with your hand.
- Slow the rate at which you speak and use natural pauses.
- Use gestures and communicate in writing if necessary.
- Explain what is happening so that the person knows what is going on.
- Allow enough time for the person who is deaf to receive information
being conveyed through an interpreter.
- The interpreter needs to stand beside the speaker and close to any visual
displays that are being used.
- Translation will be made considerable more efficient if both interpreter
and the person who is deaf is given advance information such as a copy
of the text being used.
- Unfamiliar names and terminology should be written on a board or displayed
on an overhead projector.
- Never engage an interpreter in discussion while s/he is working.
- Address the person by name so that it is clear whom you are speaking
to.
