LIPREADING Activity (Tutor notes)
Aim: To illustrate some reasons why lipreading is difficult and consider how we can make
it easier for people to lipread us.
Participants will take part in an exercise in pairs, followed by a general discussion. Ear
plugs may be used.
Instructions:
Ask participants to form pairs. One of each pair is A, and the other B. Give them the
relevant instructions and briefly explain the exercise. They should not see each other's
instructions.
Participants should take turns to try lipreading, while their partner reads out a list of words
or sentences using silent speech (no voice).
They each have three lists to lipread:
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individual words
short sentences, without any clue to the topic
short sentences, with a clue to the topic
In their pairs, they should:
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lipspeak each word or phrase once only
go through the whole exercise before they tell each other the answers
show each other the answers after completing the whole exercise and spend a few
minutes discussing what it shows about lipreading before returning to the main
group to share their ideas
Discussion:
Allow 15 minutes for the exercise in pairs, then recall participants to the main group.
Encourage discussion about lipreading and how we can make it easier for hearing
impaired people to lipread.
Ask questions like:
How successful were you at lipreading?
What helped make lipreading easier?
What does this show about lipreading?
Points about lipreading:
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lipreading is not easy
a lot of guesswork is involved
most people have some ability to lip-read
some people are better at it than others
some people are easier to lipread than others
it is impossible to lipread unless the speaker's mouth and face are clearly visible
Some words look alike on the lips, so single words are very difficult to lipread colloquial
expressions may be difficult to lipread rhythm and knowledge of the topic helps
Ways to make lipreading easier:
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the person lipreading must be looking at the speaker
the speaker's mouth, jaw and eyes must be clearly visible, that is:
- adequate light on face of speaker
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the speaker should be within adequate range and facing towards lipreader
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not obstructed by hands, books, cigarettes, food or other impediments
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eyes not hidden behind dark glasses
use sentences rather than single words
give clues to the subject of conversation
speak a little slower than usual, keeping the normal rhythm of speech
if you are not understood, try rephrasing the sentence
speak clearly (but don't overemphasise mouth movements)