Literacy Related Activities and difficulties with Hearing
Remember, disability is a highly individualised experience. People with the same disability may have very different capabilities and/or needs, so it is always best to discuss any adaptations to practice, the environment or equipment directly with the disabled person themselves rather than making assumptions about what adjustments may be suitable.
Those people who were born Deaf will have difficulty engaging in literacy related activities, specifically in relation to speaking and listening. These people will have sign language as their first language and will not be familiar with the syntax and grammar normally associated with speech, and so this will affect their written communication as well. Some people who have a hearing loss may benefit from wearing a hearing aid. It is important to recognise that this device magnifies all sounds; it does not, unlike the result of wearing glasses, correct the hearing loss or sound distortion.
The teacher/trainer should agree the method by which they will communicate in class. Some people who are Deaf or hard of hearing will need to lip-read, and if this is the case, then the speaker’s face needs to be visible at all times. The teacher and class peers need to make sure they have adequate lighting, and they should avoid eating or chewing gum when speaking. The teacher/trainer should establish a class protocol of always speaking to the Deaf person whilst facing them.
