Can People Who Are Fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Understand Lip Reading?

As someone who has grown up with Deaf parents and Deaf relatives, I can attest to the challenges of lipreading. My personal experiences and observations reveal that individuals who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and are completely deaf may find lipreading to be an often frustrating and ineffective means of communication. It's essential to understand that the effectiveness of lipreading can be significantly impaired by several factors, including speaking pace, facial hair, and lip similarities between different words.

Challenges of Lipreading

Lipreading, also known as visual speech reading, is the process of interpreting spoken language through the observation of mouth movements and facial expressions. However, it becomes extraordinarily complex for someone who is fully deaf or proficient in ASL. This phenomenon is rooted in the different ways in which communication is processed and the distinct challenges each modality presents.

Factors Impeding the Success of Lipreading

Speaking Too Fast: Rapid speech makes it difficult to keep up with the mouth movements, especially for those who are not accustomed to the nuances of visual speech. Facial Hair: Beards and mustaches can obscure mouth movements, making it harder to discern precise words. Lip Similarities: Words that look similar on the lips can be confusing, such as the difference between "I love you" and "I'll have a few."

One of the most significant challenges I witnessed was in my family home. My mother, who was educated in a restrictive school for the deaf that enforced oralism and discouraged sign language, did not sign to me and my brother, opting instead for lipreading as the primary means of communication. This decision, however, resulted in a much more difficult and ultimately frustrating process for us. The lack of a familial bond characteristic of other mother-daughter relationships was a direct result of these communication barriers.

The Role of Partial Hearing

Interestingly, while there are some skilled lipreaders who have at least some residual hearing, I have never personally witnessed a deaf individual who is extremely skilled in lipreading. The majority of skilled lipreaders I know have some level of hearing that enables them to fill in gaps and improve their lipreading accuracy.

The Significance of ASL and Visual Communication

For individuals fluent in ASL, visual communication is a primary and deeply ingrained modality. ASL is a language that relies heavily on visual and kinesthetic cues, making it a natural and preferred means of communication for many Deaf individuals. When someone is fluent in ASL, their primary way of interpreting and conveying meaning is through gestures, facial expressions, and body language, rather than through auditory means. This makes lipreading less effective, as it does not cater to their native language and communication style.

Moreover, the Deaf community often values multimodal communication, which means using multiple forms of communication together. For example, signing while speaking can enhance understanding and reduce the reliance on lipreading, which is often less accurate and more challenging for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Conclusion

While some individuals may be exceptionally good at lipreading, it remains a challenging and often ineffective form of communication for those who are fluent in ASL and have no hearing. The challenges of speaking too fast, facial hair, and lip similarities, coupled with the natural preference for visual communication, make lipreading a sporadic and unreliable means of interaction for many.

In the Deaf community and for those fluent in ASL, the emphasis lies on multimodal and visual communication to ensure effective and meaningful interaction. The importance of understanding these differences can help in fostering a more inclusive and accessible communication environment for all individuals.