Tips when Instructing DHH Students

• Talk naturally, not too fast or slow.
• Project your voice, but do not shout.
• Use the FM System or Soundfield System whenever possible.
• Keep general noise level of classroom low. Especially if a hearing aid is worn, it makes everything louder.
• Certain sounds are easier to differentiate than others. Sounds made at the front of the mouth are easiest to read while ones made in the middle of the mouth or in the throat are more challenging for people to identify.
• Homophones can be tough as well. Married and buried would read the same to a speech reader.
• Do not turn your back to the class and teach. Always face the students. Make sure the child can see your face when you are addressing them personally.
• Try not to move around too much when talking.
• Do not block you face with a book when reading aloud. Find out if the DHH student has clearer hearing in one or the other ear. Make sure to always seat them with this ear towards you.
• Moustaches, beards, poor lip movement, ‘dead’ faces are all tough for speech readers.
• Body language and facial demonstrations are important to the DHH student as well as they provide cues for them to process information from.
• Distance, clarity with speech development, and a variety of other factors can help the DHH student to experience greater success with speech reading.