Have you ever wondered if deaf people can read lips? Well, the truth is, even the best lip readers, whether deaf or not, can only understand less than half of what’s being said. Imagine trying to understand a language with only 45% of the words—it would be really tough!
Some people think that if you’re deaf, you might also need a wheelchair. This isn’t true. Being deaf doesn’t affect your ability to walk. It’s a common misunderstanding, but it’s important to know that deafness is only related to hearing, not mobility.
Another misconception is that deaf people can read Braille. Braille is actually a system of reading and writing for blind people, not for those who are deaf. Deaf people use other ways to communicate, like sign language or written text.
Some people think deaf individuals can’t drive, but that’s not true. In the past, there were laws that prevented deaf people from getting driver’s licenses, but those laws have changed. Now, deaf people can drive just like anyone else. In fact, there are even deaf professional racers, like Ashley Fiolek, who have achieved great success in motocross racing.
Speaking louder or exaggerating your mouth movements doesn’t help a deaf person understand you better. Instead, it’s more effective to write things down or learn some sign language to communicate.
Many people think there’s just one sign language used worldwide, but that’s not the case. Different countries have their own sign languages, like American Sign Language (ASL), Japanese Sign Language, and many others. Each has its own grammar and structure, just like spoken languages.
Not all deaf people can or choose to speak. Some prefer using sign language as their main way of communicating. Just like in any community, there’s a lot of diversity among deaf people, including those who are hard of hearing or who became deaf later in life.
Cochlear implants can help some deaf people hear better, but they’re not a cure for deafness. Every deaf person is different, and some may not benefit from implants. It’s important for deaf children to have access to various resources, including sign language, to help them reach their full potential.
Deaf people can pursue any career they choose. There are successful deaf individuals in many fields, including law, business, and modeling. For example, Nyle DiMarco, a deaf model, won America’s Next Top Model.
Many deaf people find the term “hearing impaired” offensive. They don’t see themselves as needing to be fixed. Deaf people are proud of their identity and prefer to be recognized as part of a diverse and vibrant community.
The deaf community is diverse and includes people from all walks of life. It’s important to understand and respect their culture and language. By learning more about deafness, we can break down these misconceptions and appreciate the richness of the deaf community.
Try a fun lip-reading challenge with a partner. One of you will silently mouth a sentence, and the other will try to guess what is being said. This will help you understand how challenging lip reading can be and why it’s not a reliable form of communication for deaf people.
Learn some basic signs in American Sign Language (ASL). Practice spelling your name and common phrases like “thank you” and “how are you?” This activity will give you a glimpse into the rich language used by many deaf individuals.
Create a poster that addresses one of the misconceptions about deaf people. Use images and facts to educate others and help dispel common myths. Share your poster with the class to spread awareness.
Choose a deaf individual who has made significant contributions in their field, such as Nyle DiMarco or Ashley Fiolek. Research their achievements and present your findings to the class, highlighting how they have overcome challenges and succeeded.
Spend a few minutes trying to communicate with a partner without using any sound. Use gestures, facial expressions, and written notes. Reflect on the experience and discuss how it felt to rely on non-verbal communication.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Can you read my lips? Well, no, I can’t. Please write it down or type it out on your smartphone. No, but just try. Maybe now, with the pandemic and a lot of people wearing masks, people will finally stop asking about this fact. An extremely good lip reader, deaf or not, will probably catch less than 50 percent of the words a person speaks. That’s more than half of the information missing. Imagine if you got a 45 on your Spanish exam—would it be easy to communicate in Mexico?
There are so many misconceptions about deaf people that it would be impossible to address them all in one video. It can be pretty frustrating at times, but one way the deaf community deals with this misinformation is through our sense of humor.
The worst when it comes to lip reading is if the person’s lips are dry or have a blemish nearby. Believing that every deaf person is a lip-reading expert is just the first misconception we’re going to discuss today. Let’s get started.
**Misconception 1:** All deaf people use wheelchairs. I can walk just fine, but when I’m at the airport, I’ve had people bring out a wheelchair to help me. I guess it’s meant as a nice gesture, but I honestly don’t understand it. I will admit it can be kind of useful if you’re suffering from a hangover—not that I would know.
Hearing people sometimes act like if one thing is wrong with you, then everything is wrong with you. We can get into the problematic idea that it’s wrong to be deaf later, but for now, let’s make it clear: being deaf is unrelated to your ability to walk.
**Misconception 2:** Deaf people can read Braille. We’re deaf, not blind. Please stop handing us Braille pamphlets or books. There are people out there who actually need them—blind people. While researching this script, we learned that Braille literacy has been declining over the years among blind people, but that’s a discussion for another time.
**Misconception 3:** Deaf people can’t drive. We can drive, but this wasn’t always the case legally. Some states originally had laws banning deaf people from getting a driver’s license. Through public education and lobbying organizations like the National Association of the Deaf, these discriminatory laws were eventually repealed. In 2006, a federal court ruled that UPS could no longer deny jobs driving their smaller trucks to deaf people.
Did you know there are deaf racers out there? Ashley Fiolek is a deaf American former professional motocross racer. She’s currently a stunt actor. That’s right—a deaf woman who’s a racer, and she’s not just getting around town and struggling to parallel park. She’s an AMA/WMX national motocross champion and won X Games gold medals.
**Misconception 4:** Speaking louder helps deaf people understand. Speaking louder or making exaggerated mouth movements doesn’t make any difference. It just looks odd. Instead, please write it down or better yet, learn sign language.
**Misconception 5:** Sign language is universal. The responses and reactions I get from hearing people when they learn it’s not universal are surprising. The language I use is called ASL for a reason—American Sign Language. There are also Japanese Sign Language, German Sign Language, Mexican Sign Language, French Sign Language, and Italian Sign Language.
Why isn’t it easier to have one universal sign language? Spoken languages developed in different times and places, using different words. The same applies to signed languages. There’s even slang in sign language, which can vary according to the type of education someone received, the community they’re part of, and their age.
American Sign Language isn’t just an adapted version of English; it’s a distinct language with its own structure and grammar.
**Misconception 6:** All deaf people can speak. Not all deaf people sign, and that’s okay. Think about it like this: you can be part of the LGBTQ+ community, but that doesn’t mean you only identify with one aspect of it. In the deaf community, there’s variety too. There are deaf, hard of hearing, and late-deafened people, just to name a few.
A late-deafened person is someone who grew up hearing and then lost some or all of their hearing as an adult. Some deaf people can speak, some can speak but prefer not to, and most deaf people have a preference. In my experience, the consensus of the deaf community in the United States is that deaf people use sign language as their primary mode of communication.
**Misconception 7:** Cochlear implants are a cure-all for the deaf. Cochlear implants are not a panacea. The idea that the cochlear implant is the only solution for a deaf child is harmful. Deaf children should have all the resources available to them to maximize their potential, including sign language.
The deaf community is proud of its culture and language. Why would we want to eradicate that? There are deaf people with cochlear implants, deaf people with hearing aids, and deaf people without any of those. Plus, hard of hearing people who are often placed under the umbrella of the word “deaf.”
Learning sign language can help unify these different groups and can actually speed up speech development and the acquisition of written language for children, among other benefits. If I had a deaf child, I’d make sure they learned ASL and English, and why not include Mexican Sign Language and Spanish too?
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, so why should we think one method will work for every deaf person? Some people are not candidates for cochlear implants at all, and those who do use them won’t all have the same results.
**Misconception 8:** Deaf people can only do manual labor. Denying someone access to an employment opportunity just because of their deafness is discrimination. There are many successful culturally deaf people out there. We have deaf CEOs, lawyers, and even deaf supermodels like Nyle DiMarco, who won season 22 of America’s Next Top Model.
**Misconception 9:** Deaf people prefer being called hearing impaired. Many deaf people consider “hearing impaired” an offensive term. We’re not broken and in need of repair. We just want to be ourselves.
I may speak and have hearing aids, but that does not make me any less of a deaf person. I prefer to use ASL because it’s the best way to express myself. Speaking English is boring to me. I could write back and forth with you, but I prefer to sign. It’s just easier and more visual.
The deaf community is diverse. There are deaf people born to hearing parents, deaf people born to deaf parents, mainstream deaf people, deaf-schooled individuals, late-deafened individuals, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind people. There are also deaf people who are trans, gay, straight, cis, and from all ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Hearing people, we appreciate you, but these misconceptions need to go. It’s 2021—let’s get with the program. I’m proud to be deaf.
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This version maintains the core messages while removing informal language and sensitive content.
Deaf – Unable to hear or having a severe hearing impairment. – Many deaf individuals use sign language to communicate effectively with others.
People – Human beings in general or considered collectively. – People from different cultures bring unique perspectives to a community.
Sign – A gesture or action used to convey information or instructions. – In American Sign Language, each sign represents a word or concept.
Language – A system of communication used by a particular country or community. – English is a language spoken by millions of people worldwide.
Misconceptions – Incorrect or mistaken views or ideas. – There are many misconceptions about how people with disabilities live their daily lives.
Community – A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. – The local community organized a festival to celebrate cultural diversity.
Understand – To grasp the meaning, significance, or nature of something. – It is important to understand different perspectives to resolve conflicts peacefully.
Communicate – To share or exchange information, news, or ideas. – Technology has made it easier for people to communicate across long distances.
Braille – A system of raised dots that can be felt with the fingers, used by people who are visually impaired. – Braille allows visually impaired individuals to read and write independently.
Diversity – The state of being diverse; variety, especially in terms of culture, ethnicity, and ideas. – Schools that embrace diversity help students learn about different cultures and traditions.
