Anyone with hearing loss or who works with people that do?

[chocolateworshipper]

I'm after some advice. I had a lady with hearing loss talking to me via an interpreter. Whilst I was speaking, I faced the lady with hearing loss as I felt that it was her that I was actually talking to. However, the lady needed to look at her interpreter to understand what I was saying. Therefore I don't know if I did the right thing. Should I have faced the interpreter whilst speaking, or did I do the right thing?

No you were correct, you don't address the interpreter, you speak directly to the person with whom you are having the conversation.

When I have a disabled customer who is accompanied by a carer, I always make a point of addressing them directly, even if they can't speak. (Obviously I also speak to the carer as necessary).

When you speak to people with milder hearing loss, make sure their view of your face is unobstructed. It sounds obvious but you'd be surprised how many people cover their mouth/fiddle with their face when they're talking. And as for the public speakers (lecturers usually) who can't speak clearly and START REALLY LOUDLY FOR about three words and lapse into their usual mumble just when smthm vibbhhnmmtgcsvghh.........

Can you tell this irritates me just slightly?

Don’t look at the interpreter. Look at the person.

It sounds like you did the right thing.

You did the correct thing, you face the person not the interpreter.

Can I add - whatever the hearing loss level - please ensure a good view of your face - not all deaf people (even those with profound losses) have interpreters or support.

Also don't shout or exaggerate your lip pattern - it makes it so much harder to understanding your words and can be upsetting or hurtful to the deaf person. (NOT saying OP did this btw!)

But yes, OP, you did right

I don't work with people with hearing loss, but I am friends with a few, through a sign language class I attend.

You 100% did the right thing.

I find myself repeating myself in different directions, if I don't know the sign for what I am trying to say, then being told three different versions for the same word. It's fun though, I am learning and passing the knowledge onto my children and grandchildren.

No you're entirely right to speak directly to the person - that's who you're essentially having the conversation with. If they don't look at you once it's still good to keep eye contact and speak to them.

Worked with older people many of whom have hearing difficulties and I'm partially deaf too - left ear just doesn't work or want to play.

I still face and speak directly to people and if need be use gestures and facial expression to keep conversation direct and to the point as in the old "Wanna brew? Brew wanna brew??" and hand movement / gestures to boot.

I'll also second what someone said re: keeping hands from your face I cannot understand a word someone is saying if they have their mouth covered.

The amount of people who will mumble or start speaking and then turn away drives me nuts.

But yeah you were entirely right :)

Lots of good advice here. Definitely face and keep facing somebody with mild + hearing loss - I can't hear you if I can't see your face, it's weird as I wouldn't say I can lip read but the direction the sound is made in as well as reading lips and facial expression all work together so that I can hear what you're saying.

And when you're facing someone, be mindful of your background - having the sun behind you is not conducive to seeing your face, you turn yourself into a silhouette!

Thank you all so much - I appreciate all of your advice and feedback

You absolutely did the right thing - particularly as the interpreter would have stood just off to your side (I assume as this is usual) so you would have really had to look away from the deaf person - and that round have been rude.

Speaking as a deaf person myself - we know it looks and feels weird but you must address the person you’re talking to and not their interpreter.

Good advice above. I have a colleague who lip-reads and one other thing she would say is please don't chew gum or suck sweets whilst you are talking to her. Apparently it distorts the pattern of your lips and makes you harder to read.

Dp is deaf.

We both prefer it if people look at him, even if I am communicating for him.

Yes you did the right thing

And I agree making sure you face is clear. So no hand over mouth for example

I vividly remember going to my audiologist as a child and he became furious with my mum because she was answering his questions and not me.

I struggle to hear thick accents at the best of times (he was an Indian doctor) but he also had his hand over his mouth.

I had no hope whatsoever

You did very well and I wish more people did this. If I could hug you I would.

As someone partly deaf, I get by with hearing aids now, and I have realised they make a huge difference. I also realised just how much time I spent making sure I could see a speaker's face before I had the aids.

Even when people know you have a problem, they just don't keep up with the things that help, so they revert back to turning away, mumbling, etc.

OP, you did the right thing. It's not just about the deaf person being able to see your face, it's about the courtesy and politeness too.

stranger sending you big hugs right back

I am so relieved that I did the right thing. I was genuinely worried as a part of me felt that I was being rude to the interpreter.