Hard of Hearing Support Group

What is Lipreading?

Lipreading is reading the visual clues of the spoken word. The movement of the lips, tongue, lower jaw, eyes and eye brows, and any facial expression or gesture and body language; this could include some basic Sign Language. These are all clues to the lipreader. The lipreader will then come to see speech itself.

Learning to lipread with a hearing loss takes time, lots of patience and understanding; but the rewards are tremendous.

Learning to lipread never ever ends, no matter how slight or profound your hearing loss may be.

There are many different dialects, and everyone speaks in a different way or manner. However, the more you learn, the more confident you will become; and also strengthen your communication abilities.

For people who are severely or totally deafened, lipreading may be the only possible means of everyday communication. Is lipreading important?YES, lipreading is very important.Having any kind of hearing loss makes speech sounds quieter, distorted or both.
For people who have a hearing loss, lipreading will help considerably in 'receiving' the message. Many people lipread unconsciously to some extent, and feel more at ease when they can see the speaker's face.
The skill of lipreading can be greatly enhanced by lessons. Learning to lipread will help you with your communication as well as developing your self confidence. Lipreading is invaluable.Is lipreading difficult?

YES, lipreading is difficult.

Lipreading is watching, listening, (with any hearing you may have,) and thinking; but do not be discouraged. Once you start to develop your lipreading skills, you will probably be able to take part in everyday communication with your family, friends and work colleagues more easily; and you will be able to participate more in conversations which you might previously have avoided.

Lipreading also helps overcome isolation which can all too easily result from having a hearing loss.

Are there limitations?

YES, there are limitations.

Even the most skilled lipreader cannot identify every word; because different speech movements can be made with the lips in the same position. Fast speech, poor prounciation, bad lighting, faces turned away, hands covering mouths, eating whilst talking, smoking, beards and moustaches, sun glasses, etc. All these make lipreading extremely difficult and sometimes even impossible.
However, developing your lipreading and communication skills will enable you to have a greater understanding of what is being said.

Always try to remember, you will never feel alone in a Hard of Hearing Support Group: there is always someone in the group who knows how you feel.

Learning to lipread will bring you new confidence, and you will also build new friendships.

Learning to lipread is hard work, but we have lots of fun and lots of laughter.

Everyone is welcomed into the Hard of Hearing Support Group, this also includes family, friends and colleagues.

You may be in a situation where your hearing is fine, but need to learn lipreading and communication because of a medical or throat problem. Lipreading and Communication could help you as well. When you acquire lipreading skills, many of those problems are often reduced. Hearing aids and lipreading, work together to help you communicate. So,

Why don't you!

Stop feeling distraught
Alone and embarrassed,
There's no need at all for you to feel harassed.
There's help if you need it,
There's no need to doubt,
The joy and happiness that will surely come about.
A Hard of Hearing Support Group will help you I know,
Your communication and confidence will build up too.
So, don't waste a minute in thinking it through,
A Hard of Hearing Support Group could be just for YOU.

Would you like to learn how to rebuild your self-confidence, self-asteem and feel confident in yourself when you are participating in everyday conversation with your family, friends, work colleagues or even at social gatherings?

If you would like to know more, then please follow the links at the top of the page to find out what we do.

If you are seriously thinking about attending my Lipreading and Communication Group, and you want to join us, please let me know your name and phone number beforehand.If you would like to join us, you can phone

Diane 0161-798-7943.

Or you can email me at

de952000@yahoo.co.uk

Or you can leave a message or comment on the comments page, all feedback is welcome.

Or you can come along to

Hard of Hearing Lipreading & Communication Support Group.

Beginners, mixed ability total.

Monday Mornings 9.50am - 12noon.

Staring promptly at 10am.

The Mosses Community Centre,

Cecil Street,

Bury.

Hard of Hearing Lipreading & Communication Support.