If there are any children in your school or neighborhood with a hearing impairment, you may want to get to know them better. Remember, they like the same things you do - Sports, art, movies, and hanging out with friends. Here are some ways to talk with hearing impaired friends:
- Face the person when you talk. The faces we make while we talk show how we are feeling.
- Make sure your mouth and face can be seen easily and there is light on your face.
- Talk normally. Making a big thing of talking clearly can make it harder to understnad what you are saying.
- If you and your friend have a hard time understanding each orther, try these things:
- Repeat what you said. They might have missed part of it.
- Say the same thing using different words. They might not understand some of the words you are using.
- Act it out. Show them what you mean without talking.
- Write it down.
- Ask about sighn language. Does yhour friend know it? Why don't you learn some too! Maybe your friend's family has some books or videotapes that you can borrow.
Adapted from "Growing up Without Hearing (Series 1)" by John Madison -
available at http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/InfoToGo