I want to tell you a story about what happened to me at the Grand Kickoff event. The show was nearly over, and the dog breeder, Carmen, announced the first hearing dog. She wanted to donate a dog to David Allery, founder of the YOUR HEARING DOG INC.
A few people held dogs to show to the public and, in front of me, David was holding his dog, and a person came close to pet the dog. David gestured for me to come over and pet the dog as well. The person next to me was trying to ask me something, and at the same time, David was asking what the person was trying to tell me, so I looked at the person, and the person tried again. I tried to listen to the sound of the word and read their lips, and when I thought I understood what the person asked me, I gestured “small”, so then I told David, “puppy”, and then David repeated back to that person.
At that exact moment, I turned around and saw a person in a wheelchair and a poodle dog sitting on the person’s lap; this person was smiling in disbelief while turning around and leaving. So I said to the person, “The dog chose you”. These few seconds showed that while people choose their dogs, they also choose you.
With my limited knowledge of communication with deaf and hard-of-hearing people, I can say that I was patient because the person was trying to communicate with me, and I was trying to answer back with a gesture. This is how I did it, but how do you relate to that person, respecting their ability to communicate?
These are the tips I took from the Deaf Awareness Tips – Deaf Action based in the UK:
- Use gesture.
- Maintain eye contact.
- Technology/phone.
- Write it down.
- Be patient.
- Reduce background noise.
- Getting attention: tapping their shoulder, waving, knocking on the table, or thumping on the floor.
- Learn ASL.
Communication is what builds a relationship.
What is your experience with communication with a deaf or hard-of-hearing person? If you are deaf or hard-of-hearing, what experience have you had?
