Communication with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
From the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes
Deaf and hard of hearing students use a variety of techniques when communicating with others. Some students may use a combination of methods to receive information. For example, they may use an assistive listening device and CART, speech-to-text transcription.
Creating an Accessible Learning Environment
Most students who are deaf or hard of hearing depend on their vision to speechread, watch an interpreter, or read a live transcript. Although there are some unique strategies based on the method of communication used, the guidelines below can promote effective communication, no matter what method is used.
- Remember to communicate directly with the deaf or hard of hearing student.
- Avoid standing in front of a light source. This puts a shadow on your face, making it difficult to speechread what you’re saying.
- Try to avoid speaking when the student can’t see your face, such as when you write on the board or walk around the room.
- In using demonstration and visual aids, deaf and hard of hearing students are not able to listen to the instructor and, at the same time, watch what is being explained. Brief but frequent pauses while using visual aids and demonstration are appreciated by the service provider and student. This allows the student time to see what is being said and then watch the demonstration.
- It is helpful to write general class announcements on the board or include them in a PowerPoint slide.
- Question and answer periods may create challenges for effective communication. Allowing one person to talk at a time enables the service provider to identify who is talking.
- When questions are asked from the class, it is helpful to repeat the question before answering.
- Do not talk to the class while simultaneously having students read something.
- Remember, service providers are ethically bound to convey everything the instructor and other students say. The deaf or hard of hearing student has the right to hear everything, just as hearing students do.
- All videos must be captioned.
Please contact Student Accessibility and Testing, (573) 341-6655 or dss@mst.edu with any questions.