LIP-READING OR SPEECH-READING

Living with a hearing loss is challenging. Perhaps the most difficult aspect is the understanding of the speech of others. This is especially difficult in noisy environments.

Two frequently asked questions from many people with an acquired hearing loss are:
"Should I learn to lip-read?" and, “Will lip-reading help?"

With current developments in hearing aid technology, the most effective way of continuing to understand speech, is by the effective use of hearing devices and careful listening.

Application of the technology

Most assistance and advice now given for managing hearing loss is:
a) gain information about and an understanding of the wide range of hearing devices available.
b) work closely with your audiologist for maximum use of hearing aids.

When hearing aids are no longer effective, people now have the option of considering a cochlear implant. Much improved speech and sound reception is available with this remarkable development. Audition, hearing, listening, are the most effective ways to receive the spoken message. However, this receptive channel can be supported by vision. The use of vision in the communication process is significant and valuable.

We receive additional information from:

• Situational clues
• Facial expressions
• Gestures
• Body Language
• Captions / text / print
• Lip-reading / speech-reading

The clear view of a speaker’s face remains of paramount importance in communication. Some information is better understood with lip-reading or speech-reading as well as hearing. Remember lip-reading or speech-reading alone will not provide all or very much information but it can supplement listening.

What is lip-reading/speech-reading?

Speech has both sound and shape
• We hear the sound and see the shape from the lips, teeth and tongue formations
• Lip-reading / speech-reading is the ability to see and recognize the shape of speech sounds in spoken communication and conversation

What are the benefits of lip-reading/speech-reading?

• Some sounds that we may not hear so well, or hear at all can be seen on the lips. This helps to fill in the gaps in words and sentences, and improve our understanding when sound clarity is lost
• Seeing the speaker’s face and following clear lip formations enhance understanding
• Some recognition of these shapes is possible with understanding and practice
• Of most value is the complement of vision and hearing
• It is vital to see the speaker and to encourage speakers to remember to face the person with the hearing loss when they are speaking. This enhances hearing as well as seeing visual clues such as lip shapes

What are the limitations of lip-reading/speech-reading?

• Speech may be too fast to lip-read easily
• Many speech shapes are not visible from the lips, teeth, tongue
• Many speech shapes are similar and words look alike on the lips
• Some people do not speak clearly and do not form their lip shapes properly
• Speakers may not keep their faces and mouths visible throughout a conversation
• Poor light / faces in shadow reduce visual information

Some Tips

• Seek reference material that explains lip-reading / speech-reading in more detail
• Have regular eye tests and maintain proper visual acuity. Valuable visual information supports and supplements what we hear
• Be aware of ways you can adjust your position, in any location, to improve your hearing, listening and visual needs

Lip-reading practice

You may find that you lip-read or speech-read to some extent already. These tips may help you enhance your use of vision and lip-reading to help your comprehension of speech even more.
• Watch the speakers face
• Try to focus on the area of the mouth to follow the movements of the lips, teeth and tongue
• Recognition of speech comes from the auditory and visual pattern together - what you see and what you hear
• Become more aware of the shape of speech and try to recognise the shape of some sounds and words together with what you hear
• practice this deliberately with a familiar communication partner and explain what you want to do
• Watch a good TV newsreader with the sound turned down slightly as you need both the visual and auditory information for understanding
• watch your own speech in a mirror to help recognise how particular sounds and words look on the lips
• When you are in a noisy environment focus on the speaker’s face and mouth to get more information from the shape of speech

You will soon realise that you are using auditory visual approach (listening and watching) to understand speech. You are incorporating lip-reading naturally into your receptive communication.