Lip-reading V Sign language V communication.

Continuing to explore why sign language and lip-reading classes consistently fail late-deafened people. In response why Lip-reading is predominantly for those with no profoundly deaf issues, and why sign language classes are only for hearing interested. An response to my criticisism of lip-reading classes, in that tutors either did not want late deafened in their classes, or sidelined them until they left in frustration. These classes were fiercly defended by hard of hearing people, who in due respect didn't really appreciate the late deafened were being actively excluded by default from the same help.

COMMENT:

All communication classes after deafness are difficult. I did say I appreciate HoH need support too, but it seemed to be that the whole system of lip-reading was geared to no-one else. The tutors can't hack it because the teaching intensity needed for people with an sudden or relatively sudden total hearing loss, (Or even that sector that hangs on to the final and last decibel who ignored the whole thing till too late), would not allow an class of e.g. 10 other people with late deaf issues to even function.

What I am saying is the reality is these classes are simply NOT for people with acquired deafness and an alternative system needs to be in place. Such an system would suit the rest too, since in a number of cases profound or severe deafness can affect many more. There is no transitional support from partial/severe loss to the total loss.

Personally I have spent 25 years advocating an end to Lip-Reading and BSL classes that operate apart, and got constant attacks for so doing, but I am convinced there is no other way, my approach is entirely non-cultural, as I am late-deafened it is irrelevant if the history of the communication is to be part of the teaching. It's an annoying an time-wasting aside that probably suits those who never heard anyway.

Would I advocate less choice in some cases ? probably ! This is because we know no single system of understanding speech works on its own, and people's abilities vary. You need to find out WHICH system suits best, you don't just think, OK I will lip-read, not sign, or sign and not lip-read. It doesn't work that way unless you have the ability to learn either or both. Given many late-deafened are older people then the means to acquire another communication form is more difficult anyway.

It's accepted via 'awareness' universally but the classes operate blithely against. I'd want lip-reading and sign integrated with other means to promote an holistic approach to communication, which I personally believe is the only sensible and logical approach, and given the statistics prove themselves as to the utter failure of sign and LR classes to include the late deafened, indeed the tutors receive the barest training to include anyway as they do not expect late-deafened to turn up. They do say statistically 78% failure rate of lip-reading pupils success, via classes is near the norm, this may be down to tuition, may be down to people not getting a grip to it and leaving etc...another depressing statistic comes from the Lip-reading teachers themselves, in that the best lip-reader gets only 30% anyway.

Who ELSE would approach ANY class on life skills that boasts such an dire success rate ? We don't have a choice in that. Perhaps higher if one on one, or with a lot less people there, and taking it in turns to speak, or total failure if half a dozen people talk over each other, all this would mean lip reading just won't work at all. LR classes do not tell you how to utilise the skill when the people you are with do not care to include. How do we MAKE people aware without bluntly telling them they are plain rude and not inclusive, without getting attacked for it ? Late-deafened have their confidence shot to pieces as it is, they would be more likely to just withdraw.

Categorise ? To Include severely deaf with profound and late-deafened as an single sector ? Separate by decibel those who can effectively manage an lip-reading class with aids etc from those who simply can't ? If only to get an alternative communication format on stream and not a bit of this bit of that. The present system adopts the naive or amateurish approach of some sort of hobby class,like flower arranging ! It's hard to believe such an life changing class system is approached this way... like a coffee morning....

There is an lack of realities taught and how you can counter them. Many LR classes e.g. do not operate outside the class area, so no 'on street' realities. No 'testing' to see how people are progressing, and no assessment at the end to see where you are going..... No common approach to the class system. One thing I picked up at an LR class when there was a decibel to shout about (!) was it still did not equip me for total loss, the reliance on that decibel and that hearing aid, was my undoing and, the tutors too, in effect when you went deaf the whole training went out the window again. There is no warning re trauma that immediate or sudden loss can do to you.

I also thought it ludicrous they used subtitles when teaching sign language, personally I just followed what was easier for me, and it wasn't sign language. I doubt subtitled TV does a thing for sign and using in tandem with sign is a loser in sign awareness terms. 85% now prefer no sign and want titles instead. It's the consistent concern of those who want sign only approaches, but who are suffering access kickbacks by others who would rather 'read' the sign than learn it

It may be an issue the 'awareness' of the two sectors vying for communication 'supremacy', with those with hearing loss are more concerned with each others modes, than they are with the need of those with hearing loss to use whatever may best work with them, and because both modes go their own way and viewed separate stand-alone entities, they AREN'T to late-deafened, they are communication modes and as they are concerned are approached that way..

I've found awareness classes of both systems abysmal ignorant, and probably the biggest time-wasting effort in our lifetime so far....to be expected as Acquired deaf are not included. We are the majority with immediate and pressing issues, it's not a case of my need is greater than yours, it's an simple truism and a need that has to be addressed if the acquired deaf (many older people), are just going to be left to it. We may soon face an entirely different issue if the ipod stupids start going deaf younger....It means more people facing longer terms of loss, or total isolation, because the LR or Sign classes function better without us, this is unacceptable in my view.

We shouldn't be played off against each other, but that is what is happening. Late deafened, acquired deaf, have an communication issue to be addressed, so this is conflict when culture gets inserted too, communication is the priority. If you want to learn about cultures then educational establishments, and not communication classes are the places to go.