I think there is a very real problem for those that acquire a deafness, and a very real need for an end to ya boo communication choices, lip-reading or sign ? sign or lip-reading ? that is accommodating people ? I don't think so. Instead of 'one size fits all', 2 does ? Neither mode is near effective enough, as they are taught at present. We do need an end to this mode or that mode being taught in isolation for acquired 'late-deafened' people, it's NO use at all and very biased, notwithstanding it is depriving the MOST needy deaf people of the help they need.
'Lip reading is hard to learn', yes it is, mostly because those that need to start as early as possible start too late. Instead of finding ways and means to make communication easier to learn, you are faced with a stark and biased lifestyle choice instead and two very different means of following things. I'm constantly surprised at Acquired deaf NOT raising this issue enough, perhaps they haven't the communication to do it except in print, where nobody takes any notice. We know the 'hard of hearing' are happy enough so long as the amplified fone or loop is about.
They all come a cropper when their hearing goes and they find they should have prepared properly. It's a well known fact most who go deaf after a long or even shorter period, do not seek communication options until either the aid stops working or their hearing goes completely. Indeed we are told 3 million Brits WITH already known hearing loss issues aren't even wearing an aid..... and approaching 24% of our young people already showing signs of acute hearing loss.... we'll have a sector for them in 20 years, the 'ideaf'. We have to address lip-reading and BSL being taught in isolation as stand-alone modes, it will encourage the born deaf to widen their options, maybe spread sign a bit more too.
Lip-reading tuition is still in the dark ages really and encouraging technology instead of people skills. Technology is great, until the battery goes..... mostly its communication by proxy, and remote, we are becoming more isolated, but, it is acceptable because of the way socialising is changing. This makes things difficult for the majority who need skills, who are mostly older people who find learning new things hard. Support must include trauma help and counselling support options too, the UK does nothing but leave you to it.
First, to examine the 78% failure rate of lip-reading students, (Any other mode taught with that statistic would be deemed pointless), and the teachers are determined to NOT go online and offer free services, even to those that need them. Second to investigate the greed of BSL tutors and examiners who are charging excessive fees so potential interpreters cannot afford to qualify, and the deaf to sort out what signs they are actually using as a norm, it's a farce at present with anything goes if it works sort of thing. A sign norm is a must.
The state should be providing free online lessons for those that need them, free sign lessons for them too, but ideally a merging online of BOTH systems to get the best of each. It is criminal to actually charge those who are going deaf to learn skills to live and work, and a state overseeing of the systems will ensure the bias is removed from both modes too.
We know lip-reading classes are virtually zero in many UK areas, but it is not just lack of tutors, but a view they don't work for acquired deaf at all, and designed for hearing people, (Who pay the fees), greed has replaced need. Anyone who wants to work with vulnerable deaf or HI people should be encouraged by free coursework provision, it isn't a hobby, but a need. People who suffer poor communications can't learn properly, can't earn a decent wage, can't advance in skills to work, and depend on expensive support options, so it makes financial sense to support it.
OK the late deafened need to get their communication act together a LOT earlier, but we have to deal with the reality most don't, it's been discussed on many sites, the driving desire to retain any sort of hearing, outweighs any potential benefits to learn skills if and when it fails..
There seems some sort of snobbery in being a good lip-reader as averse to a good signer too, and then signers clouding the issue with tales of culture/lifestyle whatever.... backed up by a segregated lifestyle as justification, it is time they realised they are dealing with highly vulnerable and needy people. Make no mistake it is in hearing interests to keep the deaf where they are and themselves as dictating communication usage with the deaf, we seem to have no input at all as to what is going on, and the dire and abysmal 'awareness' in the UK is a disgrace, and blatant and self-indulgent exhibition, of inflated deaf and hearing ego's.
Prime the deaf child for the deaf world, and then leave them there ? maintain the dependency, encourage those with a cultural persuasion to stay where they are 'like with like', as if real choice was an option ! Suggestions ALL deafened and hard of hearing should be entitled to FREE support via communication taught, and an enhanced system for acquired/late deafened to be set up, has fallen literally on the deaf ears of the biased people who run the support and what is laughing called 'awareness' areas/systems, each protecting their own little corner, and gravy train.
Colleges and Universities join in with buzz courses on culture which even the deaf have reservations about, it's all money and about money, and using deaf studies as an freebie to boost points for the real courses they are doing.. No wonder we read total rubbish from students, who just log in to deaf sites trying to filch awareness from there without ever stepping outside their comfort zone. Culture collects kudos, hearing loss doesn't. We need the balance re-addressed.
The politics is an end in itself to the nitty gritty of understanding. What it all boils down to, is we can't hear, and need communication alternatives, that's all it is, there is no mystery or history involved.. Deaf and HI people are most concerned with understanding others, that is the priority. You have to ask why there was never any drive to unify communication approaches... Here I suspect deaf culture and HI/Hearing cultures are drawing their own lines in the sand, mostly to grass root detriment.
Even total Communication doesn't see to know what it is.... Yes we are all different in need and ability, but there is no system extant to recognise that.
Both lip-reading and sign language students, require hearing class-wise, which negates any potential of them, for DEAF people, the ones that need the skills.
