Most people with hearing loss use visual cues to help them understand the speech. Some individuals have a natural ability to speech read, others without appropriate training often struggle with speech comprehension or rely solely on their communication partner speaking loudly or through repetition. Relying on the latter can become quite frustrating and strain interpersonal relationships. Furthermore, this can lead to an overall avoidance to conversation and social interaction if the individual with the hearing loss experiences frustration by their inability to hear. Speech reading is an excellent tool used in conjunction with amplification to improve interpersonal and social relationships.
For the lighthearted, speech reading can be quite fun to learn as well. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of watching a bad speech reading video, they can be quite comical, but they also show the importance of enunciation, facial expressions, and context! Speech Reading involves:
Speech reading, formerly known as lip reading has been used for hundreds of years. In the early 1800’s it was one of the few education options available for individuals who were deaf, and there chance at assimilation in society. Alexander Graham Bell and his father were famous for their speech reading schools. His mother Eliza Grace Symonds and wife Mabel Hubbard were both deaf.
Bell focused his early years teaching hearing-impaired children. In addition, this method of teaching speech reading was thought to be innovative and provided great results for children in the deaf community. After emigrating from England to North America, Bell began to teach speech to deaf students using a universal alphabet invented by his father called “Visible Speech.” Bell, his father and his grandfather were all experts on the mechanics of voice and elocution. Bell once said, “To ask the value of speech is like asking the value of life.”
Speech reading has been proven to have success. After World War I and II, there was a surge in severe to profound hearing loss in Veterans. For that reason, Veterans affairs hospitals were erected and a large part of the rehabilitation provided was concerned with Audiology and hearing rehabilitation. Rehabilitation consisted of an aural rehabilitation program that focused on speech reading, the use of hearing aids, and communication methods. A veteran and now Audiologist Mark Ross can say with the utmost confidence that,
“people with hearing loss can benefit from information about various kinds of communication and repair strategies that can be used to enhance interpersonal communication. With a little practice and focus on the lips, hearing-impaired people can improve their comprehension of the spoken word. (Ross, M, 2001)”
– Mark Ross, PhD, AuD.
There are numerous benefits of learning to speech read which include the following:
If you are interested in improving your speech reading skills there are several courses available in the Ottawa area.
Canadian Hearing Society
1620 Scott St, Suite 13, Ottawa, ON
1-866-518-0000
TTY: 1-877-215-9530
email:info@chs.ca
English, French, ASL, LSQ
One on one, or classes/workshops
La Ressource
819-777-3293
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association
75 Albert St, Suite 901
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5E7
Voice: 613-526-1584
TTY: 613-526-2692
Fax: 613-526-4718
Toll-Free: 1-800-263-8068 (In Canada Only)
E-mail: chhanational@chha.ca
References:
Alexander Graham Bell. (2017). Retrieved from https://agbfoundation.ca/alexander-graham-bell/
Ross, M. (2001). Aural Rehabilitation: Some Personal & Professional Reflections. http://hearingreview.com/2001/09/aural-rehabilitation-some-personal-amp-professional-relections/
As the coronavirus impacts us all, please read how Davidson Hearing Aid Centres is working to create a safe environment for our staff and clients alike. Please note that our policies and office opening may be changing day-to-day as required. Please check back on our website to find the most up to date information.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and certain ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device.
The following Signia product families are compatible with this accessory.
The following Signia product families are compatible with this accessory.
The myHearing app works for all Andoid smartphones (Android 4.4 and newer) and iPhones (iOS version 8 and newer).
Full live remote tuning was tested and works best with the following devices:
• Google Nexus 6P (Android 7.1.1 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S8 – SM-G950F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S8 (USA) – SM-G950U (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 – SM-G930F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 (USA) – SM-G930V (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – SM-G935F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S6 – SM-920I (Android 6.0.1 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – SM-G925F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 – SM-G900F (Android 6.0.1 or higher)
The functionality of myControl App was tested and works best with the following Android devices:
• Google Nexus 6P (Android 7.1.1 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S8 – SM-G950F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S8 (USA) – SM-G950U (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 – SM-G930F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 (USA) – SM-G930V (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – SM-G935F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S6 – SM-920I (Android 6.0.1 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – SM-G925F (Android 7.0 or higher)
• Samsung Galaxy S5 – SM-G900F (Android 6.0.1 or higher)
This app can be used with any hearing aids as a guide for your first fit. The following Signia product families offer full conferencing with your professional as well as access to the full range of programming adjustments.
The following Signia product families offer a more limited range of fine tuning adjustments.
The following Signia product families are compatible with this accessory.
The following Signia product families are compatible with this accessory.
The following Widex product families are compatible with this accessory.
*Please note that the mini CIC’s are not wireless and will not function with these devices.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and certain ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device. Not compatible with the Audeo B-Direct.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and certain ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device. Not compatible with the Audeo B-Direct or the Audeo Q-10 products.
*Please note that the Audeo B-Direct, Virto B-Ti, or the Virto nano IIC are not compatible with this product.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and certain ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device. Not compatible with the Audeo B-Direct or the Audeo Q-10 products.
The following ReSound product families are compatible with this accessory.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and certain MIH and ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device.
The following ReSound product families are compatible with this accessory.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and many ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device.
The following ReSound product families are compatible with this accessory.
*Please note that it must be a wireless model. Many of the smaller custom products, including CIC and many ITC are not wireless and will not function with this device.
RC-DEX is designed for basic and easy wireless remote control of your hearing aids.