Sign language is a universal or international language

• Contrary to popular belief sign language is not international. Sign languages are as diverse as spoken languages. Deaf people in different countries do not use the same sign language, but some sign languages do have a similar structure.

  British Sign Language (BSL) was officially recognised by the government in 2003. Deaf people in the UK use various methods of communication but BSL is the most widely used method of signed communication.

  Some people use Sign Supported English. This is not a language in its own right, but more like a kind of English with signs. BSL is very different as it is structured in a completely different way to English and, like any language, it has its own grammar.

  You can read more about BSL in our leaflet "Sign Language".

Deaf people are good lipreaders

• Many people assume deaf people can understand everything by lipreading. But, as many words use the same lipshapes, no one can lipread everything. This is why lipreaders may welcome gesture, fingerspelling, sign or other clues to indicate the subject of conversation.

  Some people may find it more difficult than others to lipread. How quickly you learn to lipread will depend on your ability, your memory, your degree of hearing loss and how keen you are to learn. How other people speak can also affect how well you lipread.

  Many people don't speak clearly and lipreading someone with an unfamiliar accent may be tricky. It may be difficult to lipread someone with a beard or a large moustache. However, many people do become skilled lipreaders and find lipreading very useful.
  
  For more information about lipreading read out leaflet Watch this face.

Hearing aids can restore hearing

• Hearing aids can be a great help to many deaf and hard of hearing people, but they cannot restore hearing that has been lost. About two million people in the UK use hearing aids, but it is estimated that a further three million could benefit from them.

  While analogue hearing aids merely amplify sound, digital hearing aids are also able to convert it into information that can be “processed” by a tiny computer. In this way, professionals can finely tailor a hearing aid to suit any individual’s hearing loss.

  Background noise can be a problem, as hearing aids tend to amplify everything. Although digital hearing aids are better equipped to deal with background noise, no hearing aid can cut it out entirely. All aids work best when their wearers are having one-to-one conversations in quiet environments. Yet despite their limitations, hearing aids can make a huge difference to people’s lives.

  You can read more about hearing aids, how they work and how to get them in our hearing aids factsheets.

If I shout, the deaf person will hear me better

• It's not a good idea to shout at a deaf or hard of hearing person. When people shout they distort their voices and make it more difficult for hard of hearing people to identify words. You can appear to be angry and cause embarrassment if you shout. And the increased volume can actually be painful for deaf or hard of hearing people, particularly if they wear a hearing aid.

  Instead of shouting - or speaking too slowly or exaggerating your lip movements – speak clearly. To speak clearly you should form your words properly and speak at a regular volume. Try to maintain the natural rhythm of your speech. Use plain language if that helps, rephrasing where necessary; but don't oversimplify, as that can appear patronising.

  Read our "Communication tips" card.

Deaf people only hear me when they feel like it

• Deaf and hard of hearing people may be able to understand what you are saying some of the time, but not always. This can be confusing.

  The reasons vary. Depending on the degree of deafness, a deaf person may be able to hear some sounds at certain pitches, but hear little else. Those who lipread find that lipreading requires intense concentration. That means that someone who relies on lipreading has to concentrate all day long and may not be able to continue when they are tired. Other hard of hearing people use hearing aids. These work best in quiet environments across a distance of no more than 1.5 metres and in one-to-one conversations. If there is noise or several  people talking, or even a windy day, the hearing aid user might need the help of assistive devices like induction loops to eliminate background sounds.

  Read our "Communication tips" card to find out more.