Chapter 32

Chapters 32
As a hearing person, I understand how easy it is to just assume that it would be simple for deaf people to lip read. However, it's definitely not the first question I would ask a deaf person. I think that is kind of an embarrassing question to ask, practically saying "hey dude, you're deaf and if you can't read my lips, then sorry but I can not communicate with you." I'm pretty sure at that point, the deaf person wouldn't be a "nitwit"(pg 191), the hearing person would be.  At a DCE back in October, I was talking to a deaf guy, Chaz (mentioned in my previous posts). As I was signing, I was obviously using my mouth. He was signing back, but I was shocked because it was like he knew exactly what I was saying and my ASL was NOT that proficient. I didn't have to ask, he quickly informed me that he could read my lips, and even more interesting that he could hear! Interesting.

Moving on, I did learn some new information in this chapter! Speechreading: I wasn't familiar with this term before, but now I prefer this word over lip reading since it isn't exclusive to just how the mouth moves. Speech, like ASL is about the entire face, the expressions, the props, and the context in which the conversation is taking place. Therefore, speechreading is an entirely appropriate term! I can definitely understand how it could be exhausting to speechread, as I experience some of the same exhaustion as I try to learn ASL. I often have to concentrate on the way Stacey moves her face, her body, and what signs are included in the conversation. An frequent example I have of this is during our weekly quizzes. Sometimes I will not know a specific sign within one of her sentences, however if I consider the way she contorted her eybrows, moved her mouth, and implemented other signs to form the sentence, I can usually pinpoint the sign that I didn't know. I assume this is how it is for most speech readers as it requires specific attention. I agree with the authors, its always handy to have a piece of paper and a pen! :)    

Last year, I worked in the speech program at my local elementary school. Day after day I would see kids struggle with the "p," "b," and "m" sounds since they all sound similar. Sometimes we would try to put a mirror in front of their face for them to distinguish the way the mouth looks when producing the speech in order for them to actually make the sound. I noticed that this was very complicated as well, since like the book states, they all look the same. I just thought that was a funny connection; if a hearing person can't distinguish the sound, it must be nearly impossible for a deaf person to speech read those letters.

Furthermore, I enjoyed the "Speechreading protocol: a few words of advice!" I'll keep that advice in mind to avoid "fatal first encounters."