Somewhat Silent

Where do I find a Lipspeaker?

by lette @ 10:46 am. Filed under Accessibility, Discussion

ok, a strange one, But I know nobody here only I am from Ireland, but do any of you know where I could get a lipspeaker?? and are they any good if I am to get one, I think I need something for college for when I go back, but I dunno where to find one at all!! iv checked everywhere on the net, all I have left to do is ask in The National Ass. Of The Deaf, but I wanted to know, if anyof you have had one, are they worth it?? and do u know of how to apply for one, and are they expencive???

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5 Responses to “Where do I find a Lipspeaker?”

Frances Dobson (User Verified) :
August 3rd, 2006 at 1:20 am
Lette,

I am a CACDP and ALS registered Professional Level 3 Lipspeaker. There is a free online directory
of lipspeakers on www.lipspeaking.co.uk. Are we any good? Well have a look at the website that will
give you some idea. All my users have given me positive feedback and I believe I was born to be a
lipspeaker with my face and natural gestures. I know there are no lipspeakers in Ireland at the
moment and I am sure there is a demand. If you would like to e-mail me, I might be able to
point you in the right direction. The disabled student allowence is available in the UK. I don’t
know what funding if any is available in Ireland. It is possible to book a lipspeaker through
an agency such as the RNID or RAD, but they will charge an agency fee for arranging that. All
lipspeakers take private bookings via people getting our contact details from our professional
associations website directory or through personal recomendations. Fees vary, but I am happy to
tell anyone mine if they e-mail me direct with details of what they need. I travel anywhere and
accept all kinds of work.
lette :
August 3rd, 2006 at 1:01 pm
OH WOW!! thank you, ill definatly check it out, there is not much here in Ireland, Im trying to clame dissability allowance at the moment, but I dont know yet if i qualify to have it, im just in the process, ill drop u an email with far more details of my predicament, thank you so much for dropping by with the info

lette
barakta (User Verified) :
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:53 pm
Hi Frances,

That’s all really helpful information.

I’ve never used a lipspeaker as I really don’t rate my lipreading that highly, especially if I don’t have voice to go on as well. I am correct in thinking that lipspeakers don’t use voice?

Natalya
Frances Dobson (User Verified) :
August 4th, 2006 at 2:23 am
Lipspeakers do use voice in some circumstances. For example, if a hearing person did not understand
a voice or a person with no voice box, then the lipspeaker would relay with voice what was
being said. In some situations it is done so that all parties know what is being said to the
lipreader, for example, court work.

Attending a lipreading class can be a great help, because then you learn in a fun way with other
lipreading improvers, not only how logical your misreads are, but it also helps to narrow down
the possiblities in the future. For example words that start and end with the same constonant like with p, b or m like pat, bat and mat all have the same lip patterns.
If you were asked “Did you pat the dog on the head?” It would not make sense if you thought
the word should be “mat”, so it has to be either pat or bat. We all read body language to some
extent. If I had relayed that question to you as a lipspeaker, then I would have gestured a pat on an imaginary dog’s head to give you a clue as I was relaying the question. Lipspeakers think about the
difficulties of lipreading and understand its limitations. Lipspeakers have strategies for
dealing with issues and difficulties that are predictable and often have to think on their feet.
For example we often need to slow the message down when a speaker is a very fast talker to make
it lipreadable for the lipreader. Many lipspeakers can also do sign supported lipspeaking for those
whose first language is English not sign so that the word order is familiar. Have a great day.
lette :
August 4th, 2006 at 4:43 am
wow, why cant ireland get with the times, its so hard to find support in college, the tutors are the best they do what they can, but as my hearing gets worse, I rely more and more on lipreading, and i only know the basics in sign, and im neither completely deaf or any way completely hearing so Im kinda lost in what to do! but I do consider my lipreading good, but I have been afraid to ask about lipspeakers because if im not able to read the lipspeaker ill look like a silly thing!!! I dunno what to do really only go at the same pace as last year but my hearing has worsened since then so….I dunno, ill email you like i said and explain the full extent and maybe we can find out something ::) thank you again