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Be aware of
background noise.
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Make sure that
you have the child’s attention before starting to talk. Eye contact is
important; with young children you may have to get down to their level.
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Speak clearly,
naturally and do not shout.
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Face the child
and maintain a distance between you of about 1 – 2 metres to allow for lip
reading.
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Try not to
cover your face or walk around while you are speaking.
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Repeat what
other pupils say so that a deaf pupil who isn’t facing them, can become part
of the conversation.
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Avoid having
your back to the window as it creates a shadow.
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Encourage other
children to speak one at a time and to put their hand up before speaking so
that a deaf child knows who it is.
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Don’t talk and
write on the blackboard at the same time.
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Get into the
habit of reinforcing and clarifying things.
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Try to give
homework at a quiet period of the day.
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Allow time to
study visual aids or instructions before talking.
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Encourage all
children to get into the habit of saying when they don’t understand something.
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It might be useful to have your lesson
notes written up to share with the classroom assistant working with a deaf
child.
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It might be useful to encourage the
support worker to take notes during the lesson for the deaf child.